Department of Health and Social Care

Addictions and Mental Health

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning a national anti-stigma campaign focused on addiction and mental health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning a national anti-stigma campaign focused on addiction and mental health. However, the Department has provided grant funding to the Time to Change national mental health anti-stigma campaign since 2012. Time to Change works with people with experience of mental health problems to challenge stigma and to improve social attitudes towards mental health. The evaluation of Time to Change shows that over four million people to date have reported improved attitudes towards mental health as a result of the campaign. Time to Change also provides a platform for people with experience of mental health to discuss issues and concerns and this has included addiction problems and mental health. This enables people with experience of mental health and addiction to get support and advice from other people with similar experiences and empowers them to challenge the stigma associated with mental health and addiction problems.

Veterans: Disability Aids and Prosthetics

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for veterans to receive (a) prothetics and (b) mobility aidsfor injuries caused as a result of their service in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Medical Records: Veterans

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce a notification on the medical files of military veterans to help increase awareness in the NHS of that service's responsibilities under the Military Covenant.

Jackie Doyle-Price: General practitioner (GP) Registration forms currently ask if the patient has been a serving member of the armed forces, their address before listing, service or personnel number and enlistment date. Plans are in place to widen the question to also ask if a patient was a regular, reservist or service family member. This can then be recorded and logged on the GP IT system using Read and SNOMED Codes. Further work is ongoing to increase awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant within the NHS, such as the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Accreditation programme (over 90 GP practices in the pilot area of the West Midlands) and Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance, improved e-learning packages and it also forms part of the curriculum for all GPs nationally and is tested in the RCGP membership exam.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the NHS was to (a) administer and (b) collect prescription fines in the last 12 months.

Steve Brine: There is no cost to the National Health Service for the administration of the Prescription Exemption Checking Service or for collecting any associated prescription fines. The service is self-funding and is run by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA), a Special Health Authority and an arm's length body of the Department. The NHS BSA is a non-profit-making Authority and all monies recovered after operating costs are handed to NHS England.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescription fineshave been successfully appealed in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: This information is not recorded. However, the Penalty Charge Notice clearly states that the recipient is encouraged to contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) if they believe there was an exceptional reason why the penalty charge should not apply or if they can show that they did not act wrongfully or with lack of care. In some circumstances the penalty charge can then be waived. An online tool to make it even easier for someone to challenge a Penalty Charge Notice has recently been launched by the NHS BSA.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff are employed by the NHS to (a) administer and (b) collect prescription fines.

Steve Brine: The NHS Business Services Authority currently employs 211.7 whole time equivalent staff to administer and collect prescription fines.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much money the NHS has collected in prescription fines in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The following table shows the value recovered from penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued between September 2014 and July 2018. Year PCN was issuedValue recovered2014£525,666.432015£7,309,707.752016£13,828,285.432017£18,213,151.092018£13,393,952.58 Notes: The value recovered can change over time as patients often pay their fine in instalments. This means that at the end of the financial year, if a patient is still paying their instalments, the NHS Business Services Authority cannot count that fine as being paid or unpaid. That is why the NHS Business Services Authority is only able to report how much money they have recovered rather than the actual amount of fines that have been paid.

General Practitioners: Telephone Services

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the cost to the public purse of the establishment of freephone numbers for patients to contact GP surgeries.

Steve Brine: General practitioner (GP) practices are contracted and paid by NHS England to provide primary medical services for the National Health Service. As independent contractors, it is their responsibility to make their own business decisions; and this includes the choice and associated costs of telephone services. Therefore, there is no additional cost to the public purse over and above the income that practices receive from the NHS.

NHS: Standards

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) standard and (b) capacity of NHS crisis and inpatient services.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out an ambitious plan to improve mental health services up to 2020/21 and includes commitments to invest in mental health crisis and acute care. This includes:- more than £400 million for crisis resolution and home treatment teams (CRHTTs) to ensure that people across the country are able to access a 24/7 community based crisis response and intensive home treatment as a safe and effective alternative to hospital admission;- £249 million for liaison mental health services in every acute hospital, ensuring that at least 50% of acute hospitals have dedicated on-site 24 hours/seven days provision; and- £30 million to provide more places of safety for people who may experience a mental health crisis and to eliminate the use of police cells as place of safety. NHS England is also leading a programme to introduce standards for acute care services over the next five years, including elimination of inappropriate out of area placements for people requiring acute inpatient admission. NHS England is consulting until 30 September on the development of the long-term plan for the NHS over the next ten years, which includes mental health as a clinical priority. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/developing-the-long-term-plan-for-the-nhs/

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to child and adolescent mental health services for schools and families.

Jackie Doyle-Price: We are making an additional £1.4 billion available over the course of 2015/16-2020/21. This money will transform services and increase access to specialist mental health services for an additional 70,000 children and young people a year by 2020/21. Specifically on improving access to mental health support for schools: with the Department for Education, we are setting up new Mental Health Support Teams, as announced in our joint Green Paper. These teams will deliver mental health interventions for those with mild to moderate needs in or close to schools and colleges (and refer those with more severe needs on to specialist services). The Green Paper also announced the piloting of a four week waiting time to improve access to National Health Service mental health services, which we will roll out in a number of trailblazer areas alongside the support teams. The Department for Education is also setting up new training to incentivise schools and colleges to train a Designated Senior Lead for Mental Health to promote a whole-school approach to mental health and work closely with the new Support Teams. We will also ensure that at least one teacher in every primary and secondary school will receive mental health awareness training to enable school staff to spot common signs of mental health issues, and to help children and young people receive appropriate support. We have also introduced two waiting time standards for children and young people. The first aims for 95% of children (up to 19 years old) with eating disorders to receive treatment within a week for urgent cases and four weeks for routine cases. The second is that 50% of patients of all ages experiencing a first episode of psychosis receive treatment within two weeks of referral. We are currently exceeding or on track to meet these waiting time standards.

Mental Health Services

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to face-to-face talking therapies for people with mental health problems.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This Government is committed to improving access and waiting time standards for psychological therapies. As set out in NHS England’s Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, we aim to deliver increased access to psychological therapies by 2020/21, so that at least 1.5 million people with common mental health conditions access services each year. The aim is for the majority of new services to be integrated with physical healthcare, and as part of this expansion, for 3,000 new mental health therapists will be co-located in primary care. The Five Year Forward Review for mental health is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/fyfv-mh.pdf We also continue to exceed performance against our waiting time standards for access to psychological therapies. Latest figures from May 2018 showed that, of those people who completed a course of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies treatment, 89.6% waited less than six weeks to enter treatment and 99.0% waited less than 18 weeks. The latest recovery rate for psychological therapies in May 2018 was 52.8%, exceeding the 50% target.

Health: Children

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2018 to Question 137050, on health: children, when the Social Care Policy Research Programme review of the effectiveness of interventions for children and young people aged 3-18 years who have experienced adverse childhood experiences will report.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The review is expected to deliver its report to the Department later this year. It will be published in due course, following peer review.

General Practitioners: Part-time Employment

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of GPs who work part-time.

Steve Brine: The data requested is available in the following table. The number (headcount) and proportion of general practitioners (GPs) who worked part-time according to their weekly contracted hours on 31 March 2018 is presented below. The data is divided into GPs who are contracted to work 15 hours, more than 15 but less than 37.5 hours, and more than 37.5 hours per week. All practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)Up to 15 Hours 15 to 37.5 Hours More than 37.5 Hours HeadcountProportion (%)HeadcountProportion (%)HeadcountProportion (%)2,1616.720,08462.59,86430.7 Source: NHS Digital Notes: Figures do not contain estimates for the 6.2% of practices (452 out of 7271 practices) that did not provide fully valid GP data.Figures shown do not include GPs working in prisons, army bases, educational establishments, specialist care centres including drug rehabilitation centres and walk-in centres.

General Practitioners: Waiting Lists

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time to see a GP in England was in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The average waiting time for a general practitioner (GP) appointment is not collected or held centrally. In the 2018 GP patient survey 61.6% of respondents (who could remember whether or not they were able to get an appointment, and when they wanted the appointment) stated they saw or spoke to someone at a time they wanted to or sooner. NHS England is working with NHS Digital to consider ways of improving the availability and quality of GP data, including waiting times data. The Government has committed to improving access to general practice services by 2019. This includes ensuring there are sufficient routine appointments available at evenings and weekends to meet locally determined demand, alongside effective access to out of hours and urgent care services. The latest National Health Service planning guidance, issued by NHS England in February 2018, requires clinical commissioning groups to provide extended access to general practice to their whole population by 1 October 2018, to ensure additional capacity is in place ahead of winter 2018.

Department of Health and Social Care: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Caroline Dinenage: The following members of the House of Lords currently hold paid public appointments with the Department’s arm’s length bodies: - Lord Adebowale, as Non-Executive Director of NHS England;- Lord Carter, as Non-Executive Director of NHS Improvement;- Lord Darzi, as Non-Executive Director of NHS Improvement;- Baroness Harding, as Chair of NHS Improvement;- Lord Oates, as Non-Executive Director of NHS Blood and Transplant; and- Lord Ribeiro, as Chair of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel. Public appointments are managed in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The following members of the House of Lords also hold paid roles: - Lord Bishop of Norwich, as Chair of the Paterson Inquiry;- Lord Carter, as Chair of the NHS Procurement and Efficiency Board;- Baroness Cumberlege, as Chair of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review;- Baroness Finlay, as Chair of the National Mental Capacity Act Forum (joint role between the Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of Justice);- Baroness Neuberger, as Vice Chair of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act; and- Lord Patel, as Chair of Social Work England (joint role between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education). Lord Darzi holds an unpaid role as Chair of the Accelerated Access Collaborative and Baroness Lane-Fox holds an unpaid role as one of the independent experts invited by the Government to provide advice and support engagement in advance of the green paper on social care. No members of the House of Lords currently hold roles with the Department’s Executive Agencies, Public Health England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Lord O’Shaughnessy is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health.

Energy Drinks: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the merits of banning the sale of energy drinks to children.

Steve Brine: Our assessment of the merits of ending the sale of energy drinks to children is available in the impact assessment published on 30 August as part of the consultation on this proposed measure. The consultation and impact assessment are available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ending-the-sale-of-energy-drinks-to-children

Maternity Services: Closures

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what emergency support is in place for pregnant women affected by temporary closures of NHS maternity units throughout England.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Government recognises that the safety of mother and baby is paramount. Maternity services are a vital part of that but it is not possible to plan the exact time and place of birth, meaning there are occasions when a unit cannot safely accept more women into their care. In such cases, the only safe alternative is to close the unit temporarily. It is important of course, that where a unit closes, there are systems and guidelines in place to ensure pregnant women have access to the next closest maternity unit, where they are often diverted during such scenarios, as well as access to the type of care they have chosen, including midwifery-led care. Temporary closures in National Health Service maternity units are subject to well rehearsed safety measures which we expect trusts to use in order to safely manage peaks in admissions.

Hospitals: Standards

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals were classified as being in special measures according to Care Quality Commission guidance in (a) Harlow, (b) Essex, (c) the East of England and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: The information requested is shown in the following tables: Numbers of trusts in Special Measures for Quality, per year HarlowEssexEast of EnglandEngland2018 (from January to September)10217201711222201611220201501320201402118 Numbers of trusts in Special Measures for Finance, per year HarlowEssexEast of EnglandEngland2018 (from January to September)00012201700114201600172015000020140000 Trusts included within ‘East of England’ are those that fall within the East of England Local Digital Roadmap Footprints (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Mid South Essex, Norfolk and Waveney, and Suffolk and North East Essex).

Prescriptions: Delivery Services

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the annual cost to the NHS is of providing a prescription delivery service.

Steve Brine: We have made no assessment of the cost of such a service. The home delivery of prescription medicines are provided at a contractor’s discretion or can be commissioned locally by the National Health Service.

Prescriptions: Delivery Services

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued on patient eligibility for NHS prescription delivery services.

Steve Brine: We have issued no guidance on patient eligibility for National Health Service prescription delivery services. Home delivery of prescription medicines are provided at a contractor’s discretion or can be commissioned locally by the NHS.

Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Care Commissioning Groups make provide access to drug Mylotarg.

Steve Brine: NHS England, not clinical commissioning groups, is responsible for commissioning most cancer drugs in the National Health Service in England, including gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) for the treatment of untreated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). NHS England does not currently routinely fund gemtuzumab ozogamicin for the treatment of untreated AML, pending the outcome of the ongoing National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal. NICE published draft guidance for consultation on the use of gemtuzumab ozogamicin for untreated AML and is currently considering the comments received on its draft recommendations.

Food: Labelling

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to improve the clarification of calorific food labelling in order to achieve his Department's 2024 calorie reduction targets.

Steve Brine: As part of chapter 2 of the childhood obesity plan, we will be launching a consultation on introducing consistent calorie labelling for the out of home sector later this year. We are also considering the opportunities offered by exiting the European Union, which include giving us greater flexibility to determine what information should be presented on packaged food and how it should be displayed, and we will work alongside industry and other stakeholders to decide what will be next for front of pack nutrition labelling. We want to build on the success of our current scheme and ensure we are using the most effective ways to communicate information to families.

Obesity: Surgery

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many bariatric operations were performed in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018 to date.

Steve Brine: NHS Digital has provided a count of finished consultant episodes (FCE)1 where bariatric operations were performed between the financial years 2014/15 to 2017/18 (provisional data)2,3. Financial YearFCE2014/156,1222015/166,5472016/176,8762017/187,016 (Provisional) Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital Notes: 1A FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in National Health Service practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information. It should be noted that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013. 3The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final data set. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected.

Obesity: Surgery

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average cost is of a bariatric operation.

Steve Brine: NHS Improvement has provided the national average unit cost of delivering bariatric procedures based on the 2016/17 reference costs submitted by providers for elective care. This information is provided in the following table. ProcedureNational Average Unit CostComplex Surgical Procedures for Obesity£4,548Major Surgical Procedures for Obesity£4,981Sleeve Gastrectomy for Obesity£4,444Gastric Band Procedures for Obesity£2,939Adjustment of Gastric Band for Obesity£1,870

Eating Disorders: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children had a delayed discharge from in-patient eating disorder treatment; and how many days of delayed discharge there were in each (a) NHS region and (b) mental health trust provider in each of the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not available in the format requested.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children were (a) referred to a CAMHS service and (b) accepted by a CAMHS services for each (i) clinical commissioning group area and (ii) trust in each of the last 12 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The attached tables show information on the number of children, aged 0-18 years, referred to children and adolescent mental health services, both by clinical commissioning group (CCG) and by provider. Data is provided for the financial year 2017-18. Information is not collected on whether children and adolescent mental health services accept referrals. Note: These data needed to be interpreted with caution. This is a count of the referrals and not children, one person may have had more than one referral within a given month. The data provided may not be complete. NHS Digital review the quality and completeness of the submissions used to create these statistics on an ongoing basis. More detailed information on the quality and completeness of these statistics and a summary of how these statistics may be interpreted is made available in our Mental Health Bulletin: Annual Report publication series.



PQ171455 attached table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 61.67 KB)

Eating Disorders: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children undertook treatment for an eating disorder in each (a) Clinical Commissioning Group area and (b) NHS Trust in each of the last 36 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The number of children and young people who started treatment for an eating disorder in each clinical commissioning group area and National Health Service provider is collected by NHS England on a quarterly basis since April 2016. This data is provided in the attached tables. The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with an eating disorder has access to timely treatment and have established a waiting time standard to improve access to eating disorders services for children and young people so that, by 2020/21, 95% of children with an eating disorder will receive treatment within one week for urgent cases and within four weeks for routine cases. Latest available waiting times figures for children and young people with an eating disorder indicate that NHS England is on track to meet that standard by 2020/21 with Quarter 1 (April to June 2018) data showing 74.7% of all patients starting urgent treatment within one week and 81.2%% of patients starting routine treatment within four weeks.



PQ171457 attached document
(Excel SpreadSheet, 36.97 KB)

Department of Health and Social Care: Mental Health Services

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department (a) has spent in (i) 2018-19 and (ii) each of the last five financial years and (b) plans to spend in 2019-20, on NHS-provided mental health services.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the projected real-terms change in mental health expenditure is for the next four financial years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested on National Health Service expenditure on mental health services for the previous five years is shown in the following table. It is not possible to provide information on expenditure on NHS-provided care alone, as clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) commission services from a range of providers and report on their overall spend. YearMental Health Expenditure in nominal terms (£ billions)2013-149.62014-1510.082015-1610.812016-1711.62017-1811.86 (planned)Source: NHS England https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/taskforce/imp/mh-dashboard/ Information for expenditure made in 2018/19 will be published by NHS England in due course. For future years, the Department expects CCG spending to continue to rise at a higher rate than overall CCG allocations, in line with the Mental Health Investment Standard. The NHS is currently working with health and care staff, patients and stakeholders to develop a long term plan for the NHS, which includes looking at how to build on the progress already made under the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, utilising the extra investment announced by the Prime Minister on 18 June 2018.

Continuing Care

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of assessments for the funding of continuing health care took place outside a hospital setting in (a) March 2017 and (b) October 2017.

Caroline Dinenage: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jackie Doyle-Price) gave on 19 December 2017 to Question 118638.

Clinical Trials

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS patients participated in a clinical trial in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: The infrastructure provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) supports the set-up and timely delivery of commercial and non-commercial studies in the National Health Service in England. The information is not held in the format requested. The following table shows the number of people participating in research studies, rather than NHS patients participating in clinical trials. NIHR CRN has recruited a total of 3,220,237 participants (which will include NHS patients and members of the general population) to portfolio studies over the last five years. Financial Year (FY) 2013/14FY 2014/15FY 2015/16FY 2016/17FY 2017/18Total604,216618,453605,596666,639725,3333,220,237 It should be noted that this is for all research and not just clinical trials and does not include clinical trials undertaken outside of the NIHR CRN.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department holds information on the longest period of time a child or young person has waited for mental health treatment in the NHS for each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not held centrally.

Patients: Transport

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have (a) used and (b) been refused Passenger Transport Services in each local authority area in the South West in each month in each of the last two years.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) NHS England and (b) his Department have received requests from clinical commissioning groups for new or more detailed guidance on non-emergency passenger transport eligibility requirements since 2010.

Steve Brine: Information on how many people have used or been refused Patient Transport Services is not held centrally. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) replaced primary care trusts on 1 April 2013. A search of the Department Ministerial correspondence database has not identified any correspondence received since 1 April 2013 from CCGs about more detailed guidance on non-emergency passenger transport eligibility requirements. This figure represents correspondence received by the Department’s Ministerial correspondence unit only.

Dental Services: Kent

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve access to NHS dental services in (a) Medway and (b) Kent.

Steve Brine: Nationally, access to National Health Service primary care dental services remains high. In the 24 month period ending 30 June 2018, 22.1 million adults were seen by an NHS dentist and 6.9 million children were seen by an NHS dentist in the 12 month period ending 30 June 2018. NHS England has a legal duty to commission NHS dental services to meet the needs of the local population and to help patients who cannot find a local dentist. NHS England South East region has carried out a health needs analysis to identify the areas of greatest need for additional NHS dental services. The Department and NHS England are continuing to test a new way of providing NHS dental services which aims to further improve oral health and increase access. NHS England’s Starting Well programme is also aiming to improve access for young children, most at risk of tooth decay, who are not currently under the care of a dentist.

Neuroblastoma

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding was allocated from the public purse to neuroblastoma research in 2016-17.

Caroline Dinenage: Research is crucial in the fight against cancer. That is why the Department invests £1 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). NIHR cancer research expenditure has risen from £101 million in 2010/11 to £137 million in 2016/17. This constitutes the largest investment in a disease area. The NIHR spent approximately £1.26 million on neuroblastoma research in financial year 2016/17. NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Department of Health and Social Care: Mobile Phones

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of the mobile phone applications developed by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of developing of each of those applications.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department has not developed mobile phone applications in the last three years. The executive agencies, Public Health England (PHE) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), have produced apps during this period. PHE has produced the following apps to promote and support behaviour change:- Change4Life Food Scanner;- Change4Life Smart Recipes;- One You Active 10;- One You Couch to 5K;- One You Easy Meals;- One You Drink Free Days;- One You Stoptober; and- Smokefree. Disclosure of the cost to the public purse for developing each of these applications would be likely to prejudice commercial interests. The MHRA has produced one app, Yellowcard, which is funded through the European Commission’s Innovative Medicines initiative with no direct costs for MHRA.

Energy Drinks: Public Consultation

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2018 to Question 169507 on Energy Drinks: Public Consultation, whether his Department plans to consult (a) children, (b) young people, (c) school councils, (d) youth councils and (e) other youth groups on its plans to make it illegal to sell energy drinks to children under 16 or under 18.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answers of 6 September 2018 to Questions 169508 and 169507, what steps he took to consult young people on his plans to make it illegal to sell energy drinks to children under 16 or under 18 before launching the consultation on those proposals.

Steve Brine: The Department did not engage with young people on ending the sale of energy drinks to children prior to the launch of the consultation on those proposals. The consultation is open to everybody including children, young people, school councils, youth councils and other youth groups. We welcome and will consider all responses to the consultation. The consultation on ending the sale of energy drinks to children, which is open until 21 November, is available at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ending-the-sale-of-energy-drinks-to-children

Mental Health Services: Staff

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the document, Stepping forward to 2020/21: The mental health workforce plan for England, published by the NHS in July 2017, how many of the additional 19,000 mental health staff to be recruited by 2020 were employed by July 2018.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 12 September 2018



Stepping forward to 2020/21: The mental health workforce plan for England, published in July 2017, sets out our ambition to deliver 21,000 new posts (professional and allied) across the mental health system, with the expectation that 19,000 of these places will be filled by staff employed directly by the National Health Service. NHS Digital publish statistics on NHS mental health workforce. Latest data available, as at March 2018, shows that there are 183,476 full time equivalent staff working in mental health in NHS using the widest possible view of the Mental Health and Learning Disability workforce. This is an increase of 915 (0.5%) compared to March 2017 (the baseline year for Stepping Forward). A one-year comparison is given to remove the impact of seasonality, caused by training and recruitment cycles. Health Education England and NHS England are currently developing a mental health workforce dashboard which will publicly track progress against the targets and commitments set out in Stepping Forward. In addition to expanding the mental health workforce, the Government also recognises that retaining our skilled staff is crucial. That’s why NHS Improvement and NHS England have been rolling out a special retention programme supporting those trusts with high levels of staff attrition. Directors of Nursing and mental health experts are working directly with trusts to develop ‘Rapid Improvement Plans’ on retention. These plans are required to set out plans for improvements over the next 12 months. Additionally, there are a series of retention master classes which are being rolled out, aimed at Directors of Nursing and HR Directors.

Mental Health Services: Training

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department collects on pre-registration attrition and retention of students on mental health courses following the implementation of Health Education England’s Reducing Pre-Registration Attrition and Improving Retention project.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department does not collect data on attrition and retention of pre-registration students on mental health nursing courses.

Patients: Transport

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will establish an urgent investigation into (a) the application of the eligibility criteria for accessing and (b) other aspects of the operation of patient transport services in the south-west.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason NHS England and his Department have not provided new or more detailed guidance to clinical commissioning groups on the eligibility criteria for non-emergency patient transport since 2010.

Steve Brine: The delivery of effective Patient Transport Services (PTS) and the application of eligibility criteria in line with the national guidance are matters for local National Health Service clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The existing national guidance makes clear that eligibility for PTS is based on medical need, and that patients should reach appointments in a reasonable time, in reasonable comfort, and without detriment to their medical condition. CCGs must ensure that services are provided to this specification. To ensure the central guidance is fit for purpose for the needs of patients in future, by the end of 2018 NHS England and NHS Improvement will jointly undertake a scoping exercise which will inform the approach to refreshing the guidance.

Health Services: British Nationals Abroad

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that UK citizens living in other EU member states continue to be eligible for government-provided medical care in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Stephen Barclay: The United Kingdom Government has made good progress in negotiations on the Citizens’ Rights section of the Withdrawal Agreement. This will provide reassurance regarding healthcare cover to the many UK nationals who have made their lives in other European Union countries (and vice versa, EU citizens living in the UK). The UK Government remains focused on securing a broader agreement with the EU on reciprocal healthcare rights as part of the UK’s future relationship with the EU. It has made clear in the White Paper of June 2018, ‘The Future Relationship Between The United Kingdom and the European Union’, that it is seeking agreement on reciprocal healthcare cover for state pensioners retiring to the EU or the UK, continued participation in the European Health Insurance Card scheme and cooperation on planned medical treatment. The UK Government is confident that getting a good deal that works for both the EU and the UK is, by far, the most likely outcome. We do not want or expect a no deal outcome. However, as a responsible Government we are preparing for every eventuality and, in the absence of a deal, we are considering a range of contingency plans. We are building our understanding of what is required in member states to protect the safety of both UK and EU patients in all scenarios, including no deal.

NHS Walk-in Centres

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of walk-in centres and urgent treatment centres for reducing the number of patients presenting to A&E.

Stephen Barclay: NHS England publishes monthly data on the number of attendances at Type 3 accident and emergency (A&E) Departments (Other A&E Departments/Minor Injury Units/ Walk-In Centres/Urgent Treatment Centres). This data shows the proportion of attendances at these units is increasing over time, compared with total attendances at all A&E departments. In 2007-08, the proportion of attendances at Type 3 units was 26% and this has grown to 33% in 2017-18. The number of total attendances at Type 3 departments has increased from 5 million in 2007-08 to 7.8 million in 2017-18. One of the aims of NHS England’s Urgent and Emergency Care review is to make access to urgent and emergency services clearer for patients and to remove the mix of walk-in centres, minor injuries units and urgent care centres, in addition to numerous general practitioner health centres and surgeries offering varied levels of core and extended service. To address this, new urgent treatment centres, which are community and primary care facilities providing access to urgent treatment for a local population, are being introduced which will standardise this range of options and simplify the system so patients know where to go and have clarity of which services are on offer. NHS England has set out a core set of standards for urgent treatment centres to establish as much commonality as possible. As a result of this standardisation, NHS England expect to see reduced attendance at A&E and simplified access, as well as improved patient convenience with patients no longer feeling the need to travel to and queue at A&E.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients were affected by the failure of the Lorenzo software system at East and North Herts Hospital NHS Trust; and whether his Department is aware of any harm caused to patients by that failure.

Caroline Dinenage: In July 2018 East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust declared a Serious Incident after it learned that a significant number of discharge summaries were not sent to patients or to their general practitioners (GPs) from an emergency department following the patient’s discharge from the Trust. Between September 2017, when the Lorenzo software system was introduced, and July 2018 around 48,000 patients were discharged from the Trust. Of these, there are approximately 14,600 records where it is not clear if a discharge summary was written and sent. The number of patient safety records affected is still under review. The Trust has set up a Task and Finish action group – which includes representatives from the Trust, GP practices, and the East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group – to look at the current status of unsent discharge summaries and to provide clinical and operational oversight on managing the distribution of these summaries. The group is also agreeing communications to GPs, the priority order for sending the summaries, and the process for harm reviews. From its investigations and discussions to date, no specific harms as a direct result of this incident has been by the Trust; however, the Department expects the situation to be kept closely under review.

NHS England: ICT

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS England trusts use the Lorenzo software system.

Jackie Doyle-Price: 21 National Health Service trusts use the Lorenzo Software system. These are as follows: - Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust- Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust- East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust- George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust- Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust- Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust- Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust- Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust- North Bristol NHS Trust- North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust- Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust- South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust- Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust- Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

NHS: Negligence

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is for informing Parliament of serious incidents in the NHS.

Caroline Dinenage: Patient safety remains a key priority for the Department. In 2017, the Government restated its commitment to the National Health Service “being the safest healthcare system in the world”. The majority of serious patient safety incidents which occur within NHS trusts are investigated by the NHS using the guidelines set out in the Serious Incident Framework, and reported to NHS Improvement using the National Reporting and Learning System, which is then used to promote learning across the NHS. There is no formal process for reporting such incidents to Parliament. The Care Quality Commission takes into account Serious Incidents as part of its inspection role of a trust. It also produces the annual State of Care report which highlights matters of national concern in the health and care system.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of problems with the Lorenzo software system at East and North Herts Hospital NHS Trust.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The current estimate made by East and North Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust for the cost of the work required to stabilise its IT systems is £7 million.

Prime Minister

Syria: Military Intervention

Chris Williamson: To ask the Prime Minister, whether she plans to seek parliamentary approval before any new airstrikes on Syria.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on 16 April 2018 on Syria, Official Report, Column 42

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was paid in disability payments in (a) 2010 and (b) 2018.

Sarah Newton: The “Outturn and forecast: Spring Statement 2018 (ODS)” table shows spending on Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) and Attendance Allowance (AA) in both cash and real terms from introduction to 2016/17, the latest date for which published outturn data is available.Table 1: Disability benefits expenditure 2009/10 to 2016/17 (Spring Statement 2018)Disability benefits expenditure2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17 £ million, nominal termsOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnTotal16,56517,10417,90518,90619,28820,79121,73422,164DLA11,45911,87712,56613,43013,76313,79813,23311,514of which children1,1921,2201,3151,3911,4631,7171,8351,897of which working age6,2776,4566,9007,4197,5287,0716,6325,138of which pensioners3,9894,2004,3514,6204,7715,0104,7664,478of which outside UK1011121314141413PIP----1611,5653,0055,160of which working age----1461,4362,7234,481of which pensioners----15128282679of which outside UK  061119AFIP5677AA5,1065,2285,3395,4765,3605,4225,4905,483of which children--------of which working age--------of which pensioners5,1065,2285,3395,4765,3605,4225,4905,483of which outside UK334567810  Disability benefits expenditure,2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17 £ million, real terms, 2018/19 pricesOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnOutturnTotal19,17619,44520,06720,75720,82122,12322,97222,920DLA13,26513,50214,08314,74514,85614,68213,98711,906of which children1,3801,3871,4731,5271,5801,8271,9391,962of which working age7,2677,3407,7338,1468,1277,5247,0105,313of which pensioners4,6184,7754,8775,0725,1505,3315,0384,631of which outside UK1212141515151414PIP----1731,6653,1765,336of which working age----1571,5282,8784,634of which pensioners----16137298703of which outside UK  061219AFIP5678AA5,9115,9435,9846,0125,7865,7695,8025,670of which children--------of which working age--------of which pensioners5,9115,9435,9846,0125,7865,7695,8025,670of which outside UK334568910

State Retirement Pensions

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what processes her Department uses to (a) notify people of their state pension entitlement and (b) advise them of the number of additional qualifying years of national insurance contributions required to obtain the full state pension; and whether that information is provided via a single communication.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the requirement to have 35 qualifying years of national insurance contributions to be eligible for a full state pension is set out in correspondence sent to people in relation to (a) their national insurance record and (b) their state pension.

Guy Opperman: Reforms to the State Pension were recommended by the Pensions Commission in 2005, which was set up under the then Labour Government. These recommendations were taken forward in the design of the new State Pension by the coalition Government. Since 2014, the Department for Work and Pensions has carried out a comprehensive communication campaign to bring the new State Pension to people’s attention with advertisements in newspapers, on social media and on radio stations across the country as well as working through Stakeholders to raise public awareness of the changes. There is also a significant package of on-line information about the State Pension at www.gov.uk. Our online service, Check your State Pension (CySP), is key in supporting the communication campaign. This service provides a State Pension forecast (based on the individual’s current National Insurance record and an assumption that future years count towards their State Pension), and the earliest date the individual can get their State Pension. Users can look at their National Insurance record, where they will also find out how many qualifying years they have and any gaps in their contributions. Since February 2016, over 10 million State Pension forecasts have now been viewed online, helping millions of people to plan for their retirement. Those who are unable to use the online CySP service can request to get a State Pension forecast posted to them. The CySP service also gives personalised information on whether the payment of (Class 3) voluntary National Insurance Contributions (vNICs) may improve their forecast. Whether or not an individual can improve their State Pension position by making vNICs will depend upon their own particular circumstances. It is entirely a decision for the individual to make but it may not always be beneficial. A person normally has six years in which to pay vNICs for a given tax year. Anyone considering making vNICs payments should firstly check their State Pension using the CySP service on www.gov.uk. Where someone pays Class 3 vNICs and the payment does not result in an increase their State Pension, they can request a refund from HMRC. People with no National Insurance record before the introduction of the new StatePension on 6 April 2016 will need 35 qualifying years to get the full amount of new State Pension, when they reach State Pension age. For people with an existing National Insurance record before this date, transitional arrangements apply and their existing National Insurance (NI) record to 6 April 2016 is taken into account. (It is therefore not the case that 35 years of National Insurance will result in the full rate of the new State Pension for these people; in these cases there is usually not a direct relationship between the number of years of National Insurance contributions and the amount of State Pension someone receives.)People who qualify will receive at least as much from the new State Pension as they would have done from the old system, based on their NI record to 6 April 2018;Many people will be able to build a higher State Pension amount than they previously could have done by adding further qualifying years until they either reach the full rate of new State Pension, or their State Pension age whichever comes first

Pensioners: Personal Independence Payment

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Scotland over the age of 65 have been (a) successfully reassessed and (b) unsuccessfully reassessed after being invited to move from disability living allowance to personal independence payment; and how many of those people were referred to the assessment provider as part of that reassessment process.

Sarah Newton: The latest available data on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) clearances (claim outcome) split by geographical area (Country, local authority and parliamentary constituency), by age, by type of clearance (i.e. whether the claim was awarded, disallowed or withdrawn) and by type of claim (new claim or reassessment) can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html The number of claimants to PIP who were referred to an assessment can be found by adding together the number of claims ‘awarded’ and the number of claims ‘disallowed post referral to the Assessment Provider’.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payments assessments are home visits.

Sarah Newton: In the financial year April 2017 to March 2018, 29% of all PIP face to face assessments were conducted in the Claimants home.

Inflatables: Safety

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that small businesses improve the safety standards of bouncy castles.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to improve the safety standard of inflatables at funfairs.

Sarah Newton: The Health and Safety at Work Act applies to the supply, hire and use of inflatables for commercial purposes. The Act is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or by Local Authorities, depending upon where the inflatable is being used. This legislation is supported by guidance published by HSE (http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/fairgrounds/inflatables.htm) which sets out the steps that should be taken by operators to control the risks of operating and using this equipment; and by an annual inspection scheme for inflatables run by the industry’s two inspection bodies, the Pertexa Inflatable Play Accreditation (PIPA) and the Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS). Following two recent and tragic incidents in which children died, HSE is reviewing these arrangements to ensure that the high standard of safety for children using bouncy castles and similar play equipment is maintained. This work will encompass small businesses operating inflatables and inflatables used at funfairs.

Employment and Support Allowance

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people flowed off Employment and Support Allowance whose date of death was at the same time, and who had a Work Capability Assessment decision of fit for work between March 2014 and February 2017.

Sarah Newton: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has carried out an impact assessment on the effect of the change to the state pension age for women born in the 1950s on their families and dependents.

Guy Opperman: Successive Governments have taken care to give proper consideration to the impact of the proposals made in the Pensions Acts of 1995, 2007 and 2011, which each made changes to the State Pension age that affected women born in the 1950s. The exact form of the assessments has changed over time as the requirements on Government to carry out standardised impact assessments have changed.The Pensions Act 1995 legislated to equalise men and women’s SPa at 65, over a 10 year period between 2010 and 2020. Standardised impact assessments had not been introduced at the time, but an overview of the options and evidence considered when developing the policy is provided in the 1993 white paper ‘Equality in State Pension age’. (See attached)The Pensions Act 2007 legislated to introduce a timetable for the increase of SPa to 66, 67 and 68, so that these rises took place by 2026, 2036 and 2046.The impact assessment for the Pensions Act 2007 can be found here: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204130650/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pensions-bill-ria.pdfThe Pensions Act 2011 brought forward the equalisation of the male and female State Pension age at 65 by 18 months, so that it takes place by November 2018 rather than April 2020. It also brought forward the increase from 65 to 66 by five and a half years, so that it takes place by October 2020 rather than March 2026.The impact assessment for the Pensions Act 2011 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181462/pensions-bill-2011-ia-annexa.pdf

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has held with the Ministry of Justice on waiting times for social security tribunal hearings.

Sarah Newton: I have met with the relevant Minister at the Ministry of Justice twice since March, where appeals clearance times was discussed. We are working closely with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service to both reduce the volume of cases going to appeal, and reduce the length of time it takes for appeals to be heard.

Department for Work and Pensions: Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department uses Office for National Statistics estimates of personal well-being when formulating policy; and what policies her Department has introduced to improve national well-being in the last 12 months.

Sarah Newton: The services provided by the Department make a positive difference to citizens’ well-being. The Department does this by helping more people into work, providing a simplified benefits system that is easier to access for those who need it most, delivering support to disabled people and providing security in later life.The Department has used similar measures to the ONS personal well-being estimates, such as data from the Understanding Society survey which influenced the Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families policy paper. This paper published a number of indicators, including poor parental mental health, which measures the proportion of children living with at least one parent reporting symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. DWP has subsequently introduced the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme to address and measure parental conflict, as evidence shows poor relationships between parents can damage children’s outcomes, including their well-being.In addition, within the programme of trials being delivered by the joint DWP/DHSC Work and Health Unit, well-being outcomes are being collected alongside employment and health outcomes to appraise the success of the trials and influence future policy development.

Access to Work Programme

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Access to Work recipients there are in each business sector.

Sarah Newton: The department does not hold the information that you requested.

Food Banks: Research

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to complete its review of research on food banks carried out by organisations such as the Trussell Trust.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department reviews on an ongoing basis the evidence from research carried out by different organisations, to add to its understanding of food bank use, and will consider requirements to add to its evidence base.

Personal Independence Payment

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect on the level of personal independence payment award of the illustrative example for descriptor B in activity 11, entitled planning and following journeys, of the PIP assessment guide part 2: the assessment criteria of 16 July 2018.

Sarah Newton: The Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide (PIPAG) for Activity 11 – planning and following journeys – was amended in June 2018 to reflect the Upper Tribunal ruling in MH v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP): [2016] UKUT 531 (AAC).The Department engaged with a range of external stakeholders in relation to the change in guidance and formulation of illustrative examples, but it should be noted that all examples are illustrative only and included to aid the correct and consistent application of the policy.

Children: Maintenance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2018 to Question 164825 on Children: Maintenance, for how many cases (a) payment was received and (b) payment was received in full within 12 weeks of application in each year for which information is available.

Justin Tomlinson: (a) The latest statistics on the number of paying parents each quarter by the Child Maintenance Service are published in Table 7 of the Child Maintenance Service: Aug 2013 to Mar 2018 (experimental) statistics available online at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-aug-2013-to-mar-2018-experimentalInformation up to the end of June 2018 is due to be published on 26th September 2018. (b) We do not monitor the level of payments received within 12 weeks of an application. Payment is not expected to commence at the point of application; there is a period during which the amount of child maintenance liability is calculated and information from all parties is gathered before a payment schedule is put in place. Payment towards this liability is expected to be arranged within 12 weeks of a payment schedule being agreed between all parties, but this may vary depending on the exact circumstances of the case.

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of applying the minimum income floor for self-employed claimants of universal credit on an annual basis.

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed.

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed from 12 months to (a) 18 months and (b) 24 months.

Alok Sharma: The Government recognises the need for claimants who are setting up a business to be given time to establish themselves and develop their business and customer base. However, different businesses and individuals will take different periods of time to reach profitability. The intention of the start-up period is to give claimants the breathing space they need to work out how to support themselves while running their business - including identifying other sources of income or investment - while not subsidising claimants indefinitely to pursue unsustainable activities. This strikes a sensible balance between support for new business, not trapping claimants in welfare dependency, and protecting public funds. Extending the start-up period beyond one year could diminish the incentive effect of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF), which is to encourage claimants to grow their earnings, whether through self-employment, combining that with other work, or moving to one of the over 800,000 current job vacancies. It would also add complexity, with no guarantee of better outcomes for either the claimant or the taxpayer. The government therefore has no current plans to reform the MIF or to extend the start-up period for self-employed claimants in Universal Credit. In their January 2018 report, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the impact of the MIF on the public purse – their analysis is summarised in their welfare trends report http://obr.uk/wtr/welfare-trends-report-january-2018/ With regards to the estimate of the cost to the public purse of extending the start-up period for recipients of universal credit who are newly self-employed from 12 months to (a) 18 months and (b) 24 months, a formal assessment has not been made.

Universal Credit: Single Parents

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many unemployed single parent households are in receipt of universal credit.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Personal Independence Payment

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will introduce an automatic quality check on personal independence payment applications where a claimant has a reduction of 20 or more points in comparison to a previous assessment.

Sarah Newton: The Department and the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Providers have robust audit and assurance regimes in place to check the quality and consistency of PIP assessments. Therefore there are no current plans to introduce automatic quality checks on PIP applications resulting in a 20 point reduction.

Personal Independence Payment

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the Government’s reassessment of people who may be eligible for personal independence payments.

Sarah Newton: This information is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Home Office

Animal Experiments

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to end severe suffering as a research category for all research animals after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Ben Wallace: There are no plans to remove the category “severe” for procedures authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, as amended in 2012 (ASPA). The regulatory system ensures that animal research and testing is carried out under controls which keep suffering to the minimum. Following EU exit, the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) will be fully retained in ASPA.

Animal Experiments

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will ensure that applications for Government-funded research require that animal research conducted in third countries is conducted at standards permitted in the UK.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Home Office only grants licences for animal research which is to be undertaken in the UK. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, as amended in 2012, regulates the use of animals for research in the UK and does not apply to research undertaken in third countries.

Home Office: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Victoria Atkins: Baroness Williams of Trafford holds a paid role within the Home Office as Minister of State for Countering Extremism and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities)Baroness Nuala O’Loan of Kirkinriola chairs the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel. This role is paid for by the Home Office, though the Panel operates independently of government.There are no further members of the House of Lords holding either a paid or unpaid role in the Home Office or its agencies.

Drugs: Social Media

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has to prevent social media companies from enabling illicit drugs to be sold on their platforms.

Victoria Atkins: We are clear that social media companies must go further and faster in reducing the risks their platforms pose and are considering all options to make this happen.This includes any changes to the law where necessary. It is unacceptable and irresponsible for companies to allow criminals to abuse their sites and companies need to take a proactive approach when tackling this material, including reporting illegal activity to the police.The National Crime Agency and police employ a number of tactics to keep drugs off the street. Officials continue to work with internet providers to shut down UK-based websites found to be committing offences, building on work already underway to tackle the sale and supply of illegal drugs in the UK and overseas and tackle associated organised crime.

Visas

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there are plans to extend the ancestral visa to include people whose great-grandparents were born in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: The Government has no plans to extend the scope of the UK ancestry visa to include those whose great-grandparents were born in the UK.

Immigration

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether evidence provided to substantiate immigration applications in the UK is (a) digitally stored and (b) automatically allocated to the correct application and caseworker.

Caroline Nokes: Currently applications submitted in the UK in some work and study routes have supporting evidence digitised and unique application numbers are used to ensure that evidence is attached to the correct application record and assigned to the correct team for case-working.

Speed Limits

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that police forces enforce speed limits consistently in all areas of the UK.

Mr Nick Hurd: Enforcement of speed limits is an operational matter for the police in line with current guidelines. Individual police forces may also work with local communities and local volunteers to tackle speeding, taking into account specific local needs.Current guidelines issued by the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), formerly the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), suggest that enforcement action should normally only be taken when someone drives at a speed no less than 10% plus two mph over the limit.

Firearms: Licensing

Victoria Prentis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timescale and expected completion date are for his Department’s work to introduce statutory guidance under section 55A of the Firearms Act 1968.

Victoria Prentis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department plans for its guidance relating to firearms licensing medical procedures to be made statutory under section 55A of the Firearms Act 1968.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Policing and Crime Act 2017 introduced a power to enable the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions. Before issuing the statutory guidance, the Secretary of State must consult the National Police Chief’s Council and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and we will also consult publicly on the guidance before it is published. We plan to begin the consultation shortly.We have been in discussions with the police, the relevant medical bodies, and representatives of shooting organisations about improving the arrangements for providing medical information as part of the firearms licensing process and how greater consistency can be achieved across England and Wales. The new statutory guidance, when it is published, will apply to firearms licensing functions including the medical arrangements, and the police will be required to have regard to this guidance.

Home Office: Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department uses Office for National Statistics estimates of personal well-being when formulating policy; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national well-being in the last 12 months.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office uses Office for National Statistics estimates of personal wellbeing when formulating internal policy for Home Office employees.The Home Office with the wider civil service conducts an annual internal people survey and the wellbeing questions are aligned with those in the Annual Population Survey (APS) conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The Home Office does a comparison of that data with the data collected by the Office for National Statistics to understand the level of wellbeing of its employees. Internal employee policies are formulated taking this into account.The HO has introduced a range of policies designed to protect citizens and keep our country safe.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to protect the rights relating to (a) working and (b) living conditions of workers who come to the UK as part of the new seasonal workers scheme.

Caroline Nokes: Full details of how the seasonal workers pilot will operate will be announced in due course. Ensuring the protection and wellbeing of participating migrant workers is of primary importance . We are working with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority to ensure that we get this right.

Undocumented Workers

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who were arrested for the offence of illegal working were subsequently transferred to an immigration removal center in each of the last twelve months.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not collate the information requested. No comparable statistics have been compiled or released into the public domain previously.

Human Trafficking

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is a dedicated case-work team in the National Referral Mechanism hub that makes decisions on referrals made on behalf of potential victims of trafficking who are in detention.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether decisions on National Referral Mechanism referrals on behalf of potential victims of trafficking in detention are allocated to a specific team within the UK Competent Authorities.

Caroline Nokes: When referred into the National Referral Mechanism, potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery are considered by one of the UK’s competent authorities: the National Crime Agency (NCA), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI), and Immigration Enforcement (IE) for a very small number of cases.The consideration of referrals for potential victims of trafficking who are detained and are not UK or EEA nationals is conducted by trained decision makers within UKVI and IE, depending on the nature of the detention. The consideration of referrals for UK and EEA nationals is conducted by the NCA.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much revenue has been raised for the public purse by speed cameras in (a) the West Midlands (b) England and (c) the UK in each year for which information is available.

Mr Nick Hurd: The information requested is not held centrally, as the data on fines and penalties paid in respect of speeding offences is not broken down between speed cameras and other forms of enforcement activity.

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is the Government's policy that migrant workers on the new seasonal workers scheme will be able to change employer during that scheme.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department plans to take to (a) disseminate information and (b) raise awareness among migrants arriving on the new seasonal workers scheme of (i) their labour rights and (ii) channels to lodge complaints.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who the Government consulted before proposing the new seasonal workers scheme; and whether the Government consulted with any trade unions on that scheme.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the new seasonal workers scheme does not facilitate modern slavery; and what role the (a) modern slavery taskforce and (b) anti-slavery commissioner will have in oversight over that scheme.

Caroline Nokes: Full details of how the seasonal workers pilot will operate will be announced in due course. Ensuring the protection and wellbeing of participating migrant workers is of primary importance . We are working with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority to ensure that we get this right.

Members: Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department plans to respond to the letter of the right hon. Member for Warley of 31 May 2018 to UK Visas and Immigration on Mr Samra.

Caroline Nokes: I apologise for the delay in responding to your letter of 31 May 2018. The Home Office is required to respond to correspondence within 20 working days; however, given the complexities of this case, it was not possible to provide a full reply within that timeframe. A substantive reply will be sent within the week.

Antisocial Behaviour

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Victoria Atkins: The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible powers that they can use to tackle and prevent anti-social behaviour. To support local agencies decide when and how to use these powers the Home Office refreshed its statutory guidance for frontline practitioners on the use of the statutory powers in December 2017.

Home Office: Mobile Phones

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a list of the mobile phone applications developed by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of developing of each of those applications.

Victoria Atkins: The Department has not developed any mobile phone applications during this period, instead it has satisfied its business requirements by deploying a number of third party applications both internally and externally.

Official Visits: USA

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of policing each US Presidential visit since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not routinely collect information on the cost of police operations. It is an operational matter for the police to decide the most appropriate arrangements to police visits or events.Any Police and Crime Commissioner facing significant additional costs as a result of unexpected or exceptional events which could threaten their financial stability may apply for additional funding through the Police Special Grant.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the annual budget was in (a) cash and (b) real terms for the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in each year since 2010.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) publishes local government finance annual settlements for all local authorities including fire and rescue authorities. These documents include table showing funding provided to all local authorities in England. These can be found by following the links below.2010-11 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1011/grant.htm2011-12 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/grant.htm2012-13 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1213/grant.htm2013-14 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/settle.htm2014-15 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2014-to-20152015-16 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2015-to-20162016-17 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2016-to-20172017-18 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2017-to-20182018-19 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2018-to-2019 The number of firefighters employed by Merseyside Fire and Rescue service from 2010 to 2017 can be found in the link below.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/675778/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire1005.xlsxThe number of operational appliances recorded by Merseyside Fire and Rescue service for 2010 to 2017 can be found in the link below.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/696917/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire1101.xlsxThe average response time to primary fires in Merseyside in 2009/10 to 2016/17 can be found in the link below.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/675793/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire1403.xlsx All local authorities hold a general reserve which provides contingency funding for any unexpected costs. As at March 2017, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority held £31.9 million in reserves (an increase of £14.1m), equivalent to 53.5% of their core spending power. This included £2m in the general reserve.Spending Review 2015 provided a firm, four-year settlement to local authorities including fire and rescue authorities, giving greater certainty of funding until the end of 2019/20. Funding information can be found in the link below.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/679611/Core_Spending_Power_Supporting_Information.xlsxSingle purpose fire and rescue authorities will receive a 0.3% increase in core spending power over the four years of this spending review. The 2019 Spending Review will set overall local government resourcing from 2020-21..

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) firefighters and (b) firefighting appliances were available to the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in each year since 2010.

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average response times to fire incidents were in each Merseyside borough in each year since 2010.

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding his Department plans to allocate in (a) cash and (b) real terms to the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in each of the next five years.

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has any contingency funds which could be made available to the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) publishes local government finance annual settlements for all local authorities including fire and rescue authorities. These documents include table showing funding provided to all local authorities in England. These can be found by following the links below.2010-11 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1011/grant.htm2011-12 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/grant.htm2012-13 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1213/grant.htm2013-14 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140505104649/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/settle.htm2014-15 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2014-to-20152015-16 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2015-to-20162016-17 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2016-to-20172017-18 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2017-to-20182018-19 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2018-to-2019 The number of firefighters employed by Merseyside Fire and Rescue service from 2010 to 2017 can be found in the link below.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/675778/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire1005.xlsxThe number of operational appliances recorded by Merseyside Fire and Rescue service for 2010 to 2017 can be found in the link below.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/696917/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire1101.xlsxThe average response time to primary fires in Merseyside in 2009/10 to 2016/17 can be found in the link below.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/675793/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire1403.xlsxAll local authorities hold a general reserve which provides contingency funding for any unexpected costs. As at March 2017, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority held £31.9 million in reserves (an increase of £14.1m), equivalent to 53.5% of their core spending power. This included £2m in the general reserve. Spending Review 2015 provided a firm, four-year settlement to local authorities including fire and rescue authorities, giving greater certainty of funding until the end of 2019/20. Funding information can be found in the link below.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/679611/Core_Spending_Power_Supporting_Information.xlsxSingle purpose fire and rescue authorities will receive a 0.3% increase in core spending power over the four years of this spending review. The 2019 Spending Review will set overall local government resourcing from 2020-21.

Visas: Migrant Workers

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the announcement, New pilot scheme to bring 2,500 seasonal workers to UK farms, published on 6 September 2018, whether he has plans to introduce other sector specific visa schemes.

Caroline Nokes: We intend to assess this pilot fully before taking any decisions on future arrangements

Criminal Investigation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total number of criminal investigations dropped within the first 24 hours was by each territorial police force in each of the last five years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold data on the number of criminal investigations dropped within the first 24 hours of being recorded by the police.The Home Office collects and publishes data on how crimes recorded by the territorial police forces of England and Wales have been resolved. This data is published quarterly, as part of the “Crime Outcomes in England and Wales” Statistical Release. The latest publication can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2017-to-2018In addition, open data tables containing data at police force area level can be found here for the last four years https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tablesThe Government expects the police to take all reported crimes seriously, to investigate and, where appropriate, to bring the offenders to court so that they can receive appropriate punishment.

Immigrants: Detainees

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 24 July 2018, Official Report, column 909, on Immigration Detention: Shaw Review, if he will publish the findings of the review of how time limits work in other countries.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 24 July 2018, Official Report, column 909, on Immigration Detention: Shaw Review, what the timeframe is for the conclusion of the review of how time limits on detention work in other countries.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 24 July 2018, Official Report, column 909, on Immigration Detention: Shaw Review, what the process is for (a) charities and (b) people with experience of being detained to be consulted on review of how time limits on detention operate.

Caroline Nokes: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Home Secretary commissioned a fact-finding project to understand how time limits on immigration detention work in other countries and how they relate to any other protections within their immigration detention systems. We are inviting other countries to engage on this project. The timetable for delivery will be driven by their availability.The focus of this review is to gather facts and information from the Governments concerned. There are no plans for charities and people with experience of having been detained to be directly involved. Once the review is complete, my Rt. Hon. Friend will consider the next steps.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's EU Settlement Scheme launched  on 28 August 2018, what the timeframe is for the (a) conclusion of and (b) publication of an assessment of the effectiveness of that pilot scheme.

Caroline Nokes: From 28 August we commenced our first private beta phase of the EU Settlement Scheme to prove some of the functionality and processes in a live environment.We will use the learning from this phase to improve our processes ahead of further phased roll outs to all eligible EU citizens and their non-EU citizen family members. Feedback from users so far has been very positive.We will provide further details in due course of these subsequent phases, and we will continue to update Parliament as part of that process.

Home Office: Brexit

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the 2018-19 Main Estimates, published in April 2018, how much funding his Department has allocated to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

Caroline Nokes: For the financial year 2018-19, the department will receive an allocation of £395 million from HM Treasury to continue preparing for the UK to leave the EU. The Main Estimate will be amended through the Supplementary Estimate process later this year to reflect this.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a series of monthly bank statements will be treated as acceptable evidence for applications under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with banks about (a) the decision to allow applicants to the EU settlement scheme to submit as documentary evidence of five years of continuous residence an annual bank statement or an account summary covering a 12-month period and (b) that information being provided free of charge.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to support applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme who will not be identified through automated checks of (a) HMRC and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions data because those persons have had (i) no taxable income (ii) have not been employed and (iii) have not applied for benefits; and what estimate he has made of the number of persons in this category.

Caroline Nokes: We will accept a wide range of documentation as proof of residence for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, including, where necessary, to supplement the information provided by the automated checks of employment and benefits records.A list of recommended documents which seeks to guide applicants to use the evidence they have most readily available, and which has been discussed with stakeholder groups, is included in Annex A of the published caseworker guidance for the private beta test phase of the scheme: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736281/EU_Settlement_Scheme___Caseworker_guidance.pdfWe will update this list in light of the operation of the private beta test phase, but the range of evidence that may be accepted is not limited to the items on it.We recognise that some applicants may lack documentary evidence, including bank statements, for various reasons, and therefore we will work flexibly with applicants to help them evidence their continuous residence in the UK by the best means available to them. As it is not a requirement of the scheme to provide bank statements, we have not discussed the matter with banks.

Northern Ireland Office

Health Services: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with political leaders in Northern Ireland on implementing the recommendations of the Bengoa report.

Mr Shailesh Vara: In the absence of the Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to engage with political leaders and representatives across Northern Ireland’s health sector to discuss key health challenges and priorities including the implementation of the Bengoa recommendations.

Listed Buildings: Fire Prevention

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she plans to hold with the Northern Ireland administration on ensuring the adequacy of fire safety checks of listed buildings as a result of the fire at Bank Buildings in Belfast.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland holds regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Civil Service on a range of pressing issues. This is a devolved matter but we are assured that appropriate action is taken to ensure fire safety checks are carried out regularly on buildings which pose the greatest risk to public safety as this is a statutory requirement.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Members

Ged Killen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the savings that will accrue to the public purse of the change in the pay for Members of the Legislative Assembly announced in her statement on 6 September 2018.

Mr Shailesh Vara: On 6 September, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced that she will, by way of determination, bring forward a two stage 27.5% reduction in MLA pay with the first reduction to come into effect from November. The Northern Ireland Office has not undertaken any estimate of the savings that will accrue from this reduction. The budget for the payment of salaries to MLAs is held by the Assembly Commission which is the corporate body of the NI Assembly.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she plans to decide whether to grant the additional resources requested by the Chief Constable of the Police Service Northern Ireland to deal with the potential consequences of Brexit.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Across Government we are working closely with operational partners on contingency planning so we can ensure the safety and security of our citizens in all scenarios. Northern Ireland Office officials continue to engage with the PSNI to ensure that the case for additional resources, once finalised, is directed to the appropriate authorities for proper consideration.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the need for additional resources for the Police Service of Northern Ireland as a consequence of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is in regular contact with the Chief Constable about the specific and unique concerns in Northern Ireland. Policing is a devolved matter and the PSNI’s main budget is allocated by the Department of Justice from the Northern Ireland Block Grant, through the Policing Board. Whilst operational policing matters are a matter for the Chief Constable, Northern Ireland officials continue to engage with the PSNI to ensure that the case for additional resources, once finalised, is directed to the appropriate authorities for proper consideration.

Northern Ireland Government

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what date she last met each of the leaders of the five main parties in Northern Ireland to discuss the restoration of devolved government.

Karen Bradley: Restoring devolution in Northern Ireland remains a top priority for the UK Government. I am in regular discussion with the five main political parties towards that objective. I set out the Government's approach to the House of Commons on 6 September and have had subsequent meetings with all the party leaders in the week commencing 10 September.

Northern Ireland Government

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on what date she last met the (a) Taoiseach and (b) Tanaiste to discuss the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland.

Karen Bradley: I have regular contact with the Irish Government on a range of matters. All such discussions are in accordance with the three stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs. I last met the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach on 2 September.

Northern Ireland Office: Sick Leave

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of days of sick leave taken by staff in his Department for mental health reasons in each year since 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Data is held from 2012 and the information below details the number of sick days registered under Mental Disorders, which includes stress. A wide range of conditions are encapsulated under the term “Mental Disorders” including conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, mood-affective disorders, disorders of personality and behaviour and schizophrenia. The number of days that were taken is shown below. YearDays Absent due to Mental Illness or Stress2012-2013152013-2014562014-2015862015-20161972016-20174182017-2018932018-2019 to date10

Treasury

Teachers: Pay

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Written Statement of 24 July 2018 on Schools Update, HCWS911, whether the Welsh Government is planned to receive any additional funding for the pay rise for teachers announced in that Written Statement.

Elizabeth Truss: The situation regarding teachers’ pay in Wales presents a unique set of circumstances, in which setting teacher pay rates is currently a reserved matter whilst meeting the costs of the award is devolved. This means that a UK Government decision to increase teacher pay has cost implications for the Welsh Government. I can therefore confirm that, as a result of this inconsistency in the way teacher pay awards are currently set in Wales, the Welsh Government will receive additional funding of £8.7m in 2018/19 and £14.8m in 2019/20, in line with the principles set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. Setting teacher pay will be fully devolved to Wales from September 2018 onwards, to pay for the 2019-20 academic year.

Roadchef: Employee Benefit Trusts

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assurances he has received from the Chief Executive of HMRC on a resolution to the dispute with the Roadchef Employees Benefit Trust.

Mel Stride: The administration of the tax system, including where appropriate the repayment of tax or duties, is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs. It would not be appropriate for Treasury Ministers to become involved in the administration of the tax system in specific cases.

Financial Services: Technology

Joan Ryan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government’s policy is on financial support for UK Fintech companies in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

John Glen: UK FinTech companies can have confidence that the government is committed to leaving the EU in a way that underpins prosperity and avoids unnecessary disruption and costly cliff edges for businesses. We and the UK regulators are taking the necessary steps to ensure that Financial Services firms are prepared for the unlikely event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. While there are no plans to provide financial support for UK Fintech companies in this instance, they will continue to benefit from existing government programmes, including a 10-year action plan intended to unlock over £20 billion of investment to finance growth in innovative firms that was announced at Autumn Budget in 2017.

National Income

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the loss of tax revenue in the event of a GDP fall of 7.7 per cent over (a) five years, (b) 10 years and (c) 15 years; and if he will place a copy of the findings in the Library.

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on wages of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if he will place a copy of that assessment in the Library.

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of revenue required through (a) income tax or (b) corporation tax to offset the £80 billion of additional borrowing forecast in his letter to the Treasury Committee relating to Brexit analysis, dated 23 August 2018; and if he will place a copy of the findings in the Library.

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has identified a disproportionate effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on jobs and employment for the (a) UK as a whole, (b) devolved nations and (c) each region of the UK.

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has identified a disproportionate effect on levels of business investment of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the (a) UK as a whole, (b) devolved nations and (c) each region of the UK.

John Glen: The Government has published its White Paper on the future relationship, which is our vision for a bold, ambitious and innovative new partnership with the EU. The Government remains confident the UK and EU will agree a mutually advantageous deal. Leaving the EU without a deal is in neither side’s interests. Once the Government has agreed a deal with the EU we will provide Parliament with the appropriate analysis of that deal ahead of the vote on the final deal.

National Insurance Contributions: Self-employed

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps his Department has taken to simplify the system of National Insurance payments for self-employed people.

Mel Stride: The government is committed to simplifying the tax system and supporting the self-employed. To support everyone, including the self-employed, the government has committed to raise the income tax Personal Allowance to £12,500, and the higher rate threshold to £50,000. By 2020-21, the government will have increased the Personal Allowance by over 90%, completing a decade’s worth of sustained increases. The government has reduced the administration burden on the self-employed by £19 million a year by ensuring Class 2 NICs can be paid online via self-assessment. This has modernised the way Class 2 NICs is assessed and collected, making the system simpler and more straight-forward on the self-employed.

Child Care Vouchers

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether an assessment has been made of the potential effect on family incomes of the closure to new entrants of the childcare voucher scheme.

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many households in each Welsh constituency are eligible for tax-free childcare; how many such households have (a) applied and (b) been accepted on to that scheme since its introduction; and how many such households have received tax-free childcare in the latest period for which figures are available.

Elizabeth Truss: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 25 June 2018 to the Honourable Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (155282). We estimate that around 60,000 parents with qualifying childcare costs are eligible for TFC in Wales. To date about 4,000 applications have been received from Welsh parents for TFC and about 2,750 currently have a live account. A marketing campaign was launched on 10 September 2018, to increase awareness and take-up of Tax-Free Childcare.

Non-domestic Rates

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on the review of business rates.

Mel Stride: We concluded the last fundamental review of business rates at Budget 2016. There was no consensus on an alternative tax base from stakeholders. Following the review we have announced wide-ranging reforms and cuts worth over £10bn by 2023 to make the system fairer and reduce the burden of rates on businesses. We are working to deliver these reforms, including more frequent revaluations from 2021. The government is also taking action on the wider taxation of the digital economy, including working to ensure international corporate tax rules deliver fair results across different businesses. It is right that we make further progress on this issue before considering the implications for the wider tax system, including business rates, so that all businesses make a fair contribution to the public finances, and business rates continue to support the stability of local government funding.

Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the level of coverage of free to use automated transaction machines throughout the UK.

John Glen: The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including LINK, to ensure that it is maintained.The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) in 2015 with a statutory objective to ensure that the UK’s payment systems work in the interests of their users. As part of this, the PSR is monitoring developments within ATM provision.The PSR has undertaken work to understand the impact on the provision of free-to-use ATMs that a reduction in interchange fees may have and a summary of the findings can be found on their website. The Government has therefore not conducted its own assessment on the level of coverage of free-to-use ATMs across the UK. The PSR have also set out three requirements of LINK: that LINK must maintain the current geographical spread of ATMs; that any changes made to interchange fees must be incremental to allow LINK to monitor the impact and take action if the impact is not as expected; and for a greater focus on LINK’s financial inclusion programme, to continue to fill gaps in the network.Indeed, to ensure the provision of ATMs in rural, isolated or vulnerable areas, LINK announced it will enhance its financial inclusion plan to include in the programme all ATMs that are a kilometre or further from the next other free-to-use ATM.Additionally, LINK has recently decided to cancel its third interchange fee reduction, due in January 2020, and put on hold its fourth reduction, due in January 2021, pending a further review next year. The PSR has welcomed these adjustments to future interchange rates, having stated that LINK must carefully review its decisions on interchange fees to reflect changing market conditions. The PSR has committed to using its powers to act should LINK behave in a way that conflicts with its statutory objectives.

Loans: Fees and Charges

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will limit disguised remuneration loan charges to loans entered into after the Finance Act 2017 received Royal Assent; and if he will make a statement.

Mel Stride: The charge on disguised remuneration (DR) loans is targeted at artificial tax avoidance schemes where earnings were paid via a third party in the form of ‘loans’ which in reality were never repaid. DR scheme users took home almost all of their pay tax-free. However, despite the claims made by promoters, these schemes never worked and the amounts paid were always taxable under the law at the time. The Government has decided that the charge on DR loans is the right way to ensure that everybody pays the taxes they owe and contributes towards the public-funded services from which they benefit. Restricting the charge only to DR loans entered into after Finance Act 2017 received Royal Assent would not be fair to ordinary taxpayers, who have always paid the right amount of tax and have not engaged in tax avoidance schemes.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints were received by HMRC from UK Businesses in relation to PDA1 (a) applications and (b) renewals in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016, (iii) 2017 and (iv) 2018.

Mel Stride: HMRC does not hold this information and to obtain it would be at disproportionate cost.

Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges

Kate Hollern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to remove ATM charges.

John Glen: The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including LINK, to ensure that it is maintained. To ensure the provision of ATMs in rural, isolated or vulnerable areas, LINK announced it will enhance its financial inclusion plan to include in the programme all ATMs that are a kilometer or further from the next other free-to-use ATM. Around 80% of the ATM network is free-to-use and 97% of all ATM transactions are conducted on free-to-use ATMs. The Government has made no formal assessment of the effects of banning ATM charges, but is closely monitoring developments within the UK’s ATM network, as is the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR). The Government established the PSR in 2015 with a statutory objective to ensure that the UK’s payment systems work in the interests of their users. The PSR have set out three requirements of LINK: that LINK must maintain the current geographical spread of ATMs; that any changes made to ATM interchange fees must be incremental to allow LINK to monitor the impact and take action if the impact is not as expected; and for a greater focus on LINK’s financial inclusion programme, to continue to fill gaps in the network. The PSR has committed to using its powers to act should LINK behave in a way that conflicts with its statutory objectives and recently announced it would direct LINK to fully develop its policies for meeting its commitments.

Child Trust Fund

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of lost Child Trust Fund accounts by each socio-economic classification.

John Glen: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on 11 September 2018 for PQ UIN 171312.

Treasury: Brexit

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much by Department of the funding allocated to spending on preparations for the UK to leave the EU in the 2018-19 Main Estimates has been spent  to date.

Elizabeth Truss: HM Treasury has allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to departments and the devolved administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This includes the £1.5 billion of additional funding HM Treasury announced at Autumn Budget 2017 for 2018/19. A full breakdown of how this was allocated to departments can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/). This money will be paid out in Supplementary Estimates 18/19 later this financial year.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Internet: Bullying

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle internet trolls uploading (a) false and (b) malicious business reviews.

Margot James: The Government is making important progress in tackling online safety issues through the Digital Charter, which is guided by a number of principles and whose core purpose is to make the Internet work for everyone - for citizens, businesses and society as a whole. As part of its work to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online, the Government published the Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper in October 2017 and published its consultation response in May this year. The consultation response confirmed that the Government will publish a White Paper as a precursor to bringing forward online safety legislation that will cover the full range of online harms.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of delivering the National Citizen Service in (a) the UK and (b) London in each of the last five years.

Tracey Crouch: 2011/12 - 2013/142014/152015/162016/172017/18Total grant funding (£M)168117155181181 A proportion of NCST’s costs are spent centrally - for example on safeguarding, IT infrastructure, and programme support, and these are not allocated by region. It is therefore not possible to provide an accurate split for London only.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of young people who took part in the National Citizen Service programme in (a) the UK and (b) London in each of the last five years.

Tracey Crouch: 20132014201520162017 Total Participants39,56657,78975,60592,99698,808 London Participants9,90310,99713,92415,03415,685  Figures exclude participants in Northern Ireland, as NCS is a devolved programme.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the age profile of the young people who have taken part in the National Citizen Service programme in (a) the UK and (b) London in each of the last five years.

Tracey Crouch: Participants on NCS are 16 or 17 years old, barring a very few exceptions. Individual exceptions are made each year for participants (for example those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) who fall outside this age range – this accounts for less than 5% of national participation.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the gender profile of the young people who have taken part in the National Citizen Service programme in (a) the UK and (b) London in each of the last five years.

Tracey Crouch: All20132014201520162017Male44%43%43%44%44%Female55%57%57%56%56%Other / Prefer not to say / Blank1%0%0%0%0%  London20132014201520162017Male40%41%42%42%43%Female60%59%58%58%57%Other / Prefer not to say / Blank0%0%0%0%0%

Voluntary Work: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic profile of the young people who have taken part in the National Citizen Service programme in (a) the UK and (b) London in each of the last five years.

Tracey Crouch: Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely than those from non-disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in NCS. NCS Trust assess socio-economic profile in two main ways: Free School Meals eligibility and living in a deprived area. Free School Meals: All 20132014201520162017Proportion of NCS participants eligible for FSM17%16%16%16%16%Proportion of the national population of 16-17yr olds eligible for FSM14%13%13%12%12% London 20132014201520162017Proportion of NCS participants in London eligible for FSM21%15%22%24%24%Proportion of the London population of 16-17yr olds eligible for FSM23%22%20%18%17%  Deprived areas (NCS Trust define as the 20% most deprived local authorities in the country):Compared to the national proportion of young people taking part in NCS (1 in 6), 1 in 5 of those living in the most deprived areas take part.Of the top 10 areas with highest NCS uptake, half are amongst the most deprived areas in the country.

Voluntary Work: Pilot Schemes

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the role of local authorities will be in the establishment of innovation in democracy pilots.

Tracey Crouch: The Innovation in Democracy Programme (IiDP) will involve citizens in decision making at local government level through innovative models of participatory democracy. Local authorities will be invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to take part in the programme later in 2018/19. The selected local authorities will be piloting Citizens’ Juries to open up a decision they have to make to citizen deliberation and will be fully supported in this by a Democracy Support Contractor (to be appointed) who will assist them in designing and implementing a process that works for their context, as well as funding to cover costs. Several local authorities were involved in the scoping for the programme and their feedback informed the design of the Innovation in Democracy Programme.

Broadband: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of broadband blackspots in (a) the London Borough of Enfield and (b) the Enfield North constituency.

Margot James: The Department has not conducted a specific analysis of the economic impact of poor broadband connectivity in either the London Borough of Enfield or the Enfield North constituency. The Department has analysed the impacts of superfast broadband, including the economic impact. Our 2013 UK Broadband Impact Study and an evaluation in 2015 of the UK's National Broadband Scheme are both available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-broadband-impact-study--2 and www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-national-broadband-scheme-an-independent-evaluation. We have published a further independent evaluation of the Department’s superfast programme, which has provided superfast broadband access to over 4.85 million homes and businesses across the UK, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-economic-impact-and-public-value-of-the-superfast-broadband-programme.

Radio Frequencies

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the amount of the allocated radio spectrum that is unused.

Margot James: Government does not collect information on spectrum use. Ofcom is responsible for the authorisation and management of radio spectrum, and has a duty to ensure its optimal use

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Margot James: We do not hold a central record of all those who hold roles, either paid or unpaid, who are members of the House of Lords.

Government: Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether there are plans to add Merchant Navy day to the official list of dates for flag-flying on Government buildings.

Michael Ellis: There are currently no plans to change the list of designated days for flying the Union Flag on Government buildings.All other flag flying in England, Scotland and Wales is deregulated, and any organisation may fly any flag at any time, so long as they have the necessary planning permission. Therefore, anyone may fly the Red Ensign on Merchant Navy Day if they wish.

Broadcasting: Political Impartiality

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public service broadcasters remain impartial in the coverage of politics.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to help ensure impartiality in news reporting by publicly-funded news stations.

Margot James: Broadcasting regulation in the UK is enforced by Ofcom, the independent communications regulator. Ofcom is required under the Communications Act 2003 and Broadcasting Act 1996 to draw up a code for television and radio, covering standards in programming. Section 5 of the Broadcasting Code is clear that news, in whatever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.

Libraries: Northamptonshire

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take in response to the high court ruling that judged Northamptonshire's bid to close 21 libraries as unlawful.

Jeremy Wright: It is for Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) to carefully consider its response to the provisional judgement on the judicial reviews relating to NCC’s decision to revise its library service provision. I understand that NCC has paused the review of its local library service for further consideration and that it intends to work closely with community groups and interested parties of the 21 libraries affected by the previous decision. My officials are engaging with NCC officers to fully understand how NCC plans to proceed with next steps for the library service in light of the provisional judgement.

Libraries: Standards

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the criteria for a comprehensive and efficient library service.

Michael Ellis: Local authorities in England have a statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 (1964 Act) to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. Under the 1964 Act, the Secretary of State has a duty to superintend, and promote the improvement of, the public library service provided by local authorities in England, and to secure the proper discharge by local authorities of their library authority functions. The Libraries Taskforce, jointly established by DCMS and the Local Government Association to provide leadership and help to reinvigorate the public library network in England, published a guidance document “Libraries as a statutory service” on GOV.UK in December 2015 to help guide local authorities about the legislative framework for library services. In addition, information and good practice about library service provision is available to local authorities through the Libraries Taskforce toolkits and regular blogs. Many of these provide innovative ideas and case studies from library services across England to share options and good practice. Furthermore, library authorities considering changing their library service are encouraged to inform DCMS about their proposals prior to public engagement.

VKontakte

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps (a) Government Departments and (b) agencies of his Department have taken to restrict internet access to the Vkontakte website.

Margot James: Government has taken no action to restrict access to this website. We remain concerned about the spread of disinformation and malicious activity on social media sites, especially from hostile states. We are working across Whitehall and with agencies to tackle this, including considering legislative and non legislative measures.

Broadband: Misrepresentation

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the number of complaints the Advertising Standards Authority has received on broadband companies miss-selling download speeds in each of the last five years.

Margot James: Detailed information on numbers of complaints can be obtained from the Advertising Standards Authority directly. On 23 May 2018, the ASA implemented a major change. Now, numerical speed claims in broadband adverts should be based on the download speed available to at least 50% of customers at peak time. The previous position was that advertised “up to” speeds should be available to at least 10% of customers.

National Citizen Service Trust: Royal Charters

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 July 2018 to Question 163143 on National Citizen Service Trust, what the timescale is for launching the NCS Trust Royal Charter body.

Tracey Crouch: We expect the NCS Trust Royal Charter body to launch on 1st December 2018, subject to the completion of the ongoing Board member recruitment campaign. The new Royal Charter body Chair, Brett Wigdortz, was announced in July this year.

Broadband: Finance

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the total BDUK allocations of funding to date are for (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England for the roll-out of broadband services.

Margot James: Allocated BDUK Funding for the Superfast roll-out programme in the devolved areas can be found on the attached spreadsheet. BDUK also has other funding available through its LFFN programme’s Challenge Fund and Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. Neither of these are centrally allocated funding - applications are made by local bodies to the Challenge Fund, and the GBVS is available to any eligible beneficiary who wishes to request a voucher.



BDUK Funding
(PDF Document, 29.83 KB)

Voluntary Work: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of funding for the National Citizen Service was spent on frontline delivery in each of the last three financial years.

Tracey Crouch: Grant funding provided to the NCS Trust for the delivery of the NCS programme in each of the last three financial years is set out below.  2015/162016/172017/18Total grant funding (£M)155181181 Although it is not possible to separate out figures for frontline costs from overall running costs, the NCS Cost Benchmark Report, released in February 2018, analyses the operational delivery cost of the four phases of the programme. The report found that the average costs per young person for each of the core phases of the programme compare well to the costs that would be incurred by separately procuring these at market rates.

Broadband: Finance

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of superfast broadband coverage in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England has been provided by private sector funding.

Margot James: We do not hold the information requested. This information is held by each individual Broadband supplier.

National Citizen Service Trust

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 July 2018 to Question 163141 on National Citizen Service Trust, whether the contracts with National Citizen Service providers included a provision for the repayment of funding by the provider in the event of unfilled places.

Tracey Crouch: Pursuant to my answer of 19 July, current contracts with providers of the NCS programme do not include provision for repayment of funding in the event of unfilled places. However, the NCS Trust does recover all advance payments to providers that are not spent on delivering the NCS programme. Reducing the risk of unfilled places is a priority for DCMS. The NCS Trust with DCMS support, are developing measures to improve the quality and flexibility of the commissioning model; enabling changes which will allow participation volumes to flex throughout the year in response to demand and so bring down the number of unfilled places.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Staff

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many civil servants in his Department work on youth policy; and what specific policy areas they focus on.

Tracey Crouch: The Department has 16.9 full-time equivalent (FTE) civil servants working across different aspects of youth policy, including: Cultural EducationYoung People's SportLocal Youth ServicesYouth Social ActionYouth Voice and LeadershipYouth FundsNational Citizen ServiceInternational Youth PolicyDigital skills

Football

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on professional football of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Tracey Crouch: We do not want or expect a no deal scenario and are increasingly confident that we will secure a deal with the EU. We are in ongoing discussions with the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League to better understand the potential impacts and opportunities that our exit from the EU may bring for football, including in relation to changes to the immigration system.

Wembley Stadium

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had and with whom on the proposed sale of Wembley Stadium.

Tracey Crouch: Ministers have had a number of discussions about the potential sale of Wembley. The proposed sale would be a commercial transaction between the Football Association and Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. I have a strong interest because the Secretary of State would need to approve the sale as it is currently structured. As The FA continues to work through the commercial detail of any deal, I will be seeking important assurances from them that any sale must be in the best interests of the public, including around the future use of the stadium and that the proceeds of any sale provide an all important boost for grassroots football in this country.

Football

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of grass roots football facilities in (a) England and (b) Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency.

Tracey Crouch: My Department through Sport England is continuing to invest more than ever before in facilities for community football. In partnership with the Football Association and the Premier League, some £615m has been invested via the Football Foundation since 2000. This investment has resulted in 700 new and improved 3G pitches, 3500 grass pitches improved and 1000 new and improved changing rooms. In order to understand where next to invest, The FA and Local Authorities are currently creating new Local Football Facility Plans for every Local Authority. The LFFP for Cheshire West and Chester is currently in the process of being finalised. All of these LFFPs will align with a new National Football Facilities Strategy which sets out a clear framework for significant investment in football facilities over the next 10 years.

Football: Tickets

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has made to Premier League football clubs on the level of ticket prices and the availability of concessionary ticket rates for young people.

Tracey Crouch: Ticketing policies are a commercial matter for individual clubs, or for the Premier League to agree as a whole. The latest BBC “Price of football” survey showed that 92% of clubs in England including all clubs in the Premier League offer concession prices, including discounted junior season tickets. Premier League clubs also continue to cap away ticket prices at all matches at £30. The cost of attending football matches and a fair deal for all fans is however something that must be kept under constant review by football, and I will continue to raise this in my regular discussions with the football authorities.

Music: Licensed Premises

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on adequacy of funding for live music venues in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK.

Margot James: No such discussions have taken place. The live music industry is a vital part of the UK’s music ecosystem, contributing £1bn to the economy in 2016. We have undertaken a number of measures to support live music, most recently announcing that the Agent of Change principle will be included in the National Planning Policy Framework, helping to protect music venues when new housing is built.

BBC: Staff

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to respond publicly to the forthcoming report of the NAO entitled The BBC’s engagement with personal service companies.

Margot James: We will consider the National Audit Office report when it is published and respond where appropriate.

Electronic Government: Electronic Signatures

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what Guidance he has issued to Government (a) departments and (b) agencies on the use of electronic signatures by people completing Government documents online.

Margot James: The use of electronic signatures, seals and other trust services is addressed by two set of regulations - eIDAS (electronic identity and trust services), a 2014 European regulation, and the EITSET (Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions) Regulations 2016. The government guidance on eSignatures is published on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electronic-signatures). This guidance was last revised in August 2016 and is due to be revised within the next six months.

Databases

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to develop a national data strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral response of the Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, 6 September 2018, Official Report, column 304, who has his Department consulted with on the data review.

Margot James: In June 2018, it was announced that we would create a National Data Strategy. Officials are developing more detailed proposals for the strategy and we will make an annoucement on progress in due course. We are consulting with all Government Departments and a variety of Arms Length Bodies to develop our detailed proposals.

Broadband

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to require (a) Openreach and (b) other providers to publish their (i) plans and (ii) funding commitments for the roll-out of a full-fibre broadband network.

Margot James: The government's Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, published in July 2018, set out that greater transparency of build plans, particularly those of Openreach, might have a positive impact on the commercial rollout of a full-fibre broadband network, and committed the government, as first step, to discussing with BT and Ofcom how such transparency measures might be introduced.

TV Licensing

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of unencrypted transactions that were made during the encryption problem at TV Licensing between 29 August and 5 September 2018; for what reason the rectification of that problem took one week; and whether it was the security department of TV Licensing which uncovered that problem.

Margot James: We do not hold this information. Issues relating to TV Licensing are a matter for the BBC as a body independent from the government.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Lighting: EU Law

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department is making on taking forward with the European Commission the concerns of entertainment venues and lighting designers about the effect of the proposed EU Lighting Regulation 2020 to replace EU1194/2012 on theatre and other entertainment lighting.

Claire Perry: The Department has made representations to the European Commission in writing and in person to discuss the concerns of entertainment venues and lighting designers and potential solutions. Following officials’ advice to the industry, I understand that some of their representatives also met with the Commission and submitted an alternative proposal for stage lighting for their consideration. It should be noted that this is still a proposal at this stage and a final decision on the draft regulation is likely to be made at the end of this year. Until then we will continue to engage with both industry, other Member States and the European Commission to inform the UK position prior to voting on the regulation.

Renewable Energy: Meters

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the introduction of net metering for solar PV and the renewables industry to provide value for money to consumers.

Claire Perry: Net-metering was considered as part of the 2015 Feed-in-Tariff review. Government’s view at the time was that net-metering would not achieve the objective of cost control nor pay a fair price for the electricity exported. On 19 July government published a Call for Evidence to understand further the challenges and opportunities for small-scale low-carbon generation – including solar PV. The Call for Evidence closed on 30 August and a response from government will be provided in due course thereafter. All evidence submitted will be considered and used to inform any future policy proposals.

Wind Power: Prices

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what comparative estimate his Department has made of (a) international auction prices and (b) UK auction clearing prices for onshore wind in each of the last two years; and what steps his Department is taking to support internationally competitive pricing in the UK auction clearing market.

Claire Perry: No UK clearing prices exist that can be compared with international auction prices for this timeframe. In the 2015 Contracts for Difference auction, onshore wind cleared at £82.50/MWh (£2012 prices).

Energy: Competition

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to extend the collective switching scheme pilot, established in 2017, to switch energy tariffs on consumers' behalf.

Claire Perry: Ofgem ran a simplified collective switch trial between February and April this year as part of its trials to engage disengaged consumers and helping them switch to a cheaper tariff, which involved around 50,000 customers from one of the six largest energy suppliers who had been on a standard variable tariff for three years or more. Overall, 22.4% of customers in the trial switched. Ofgem plans a larger collective switching trial later this autumn.

Energy: Competition

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has plans to introduce an automatic registration scheme with an opt-out mechanism for the collective switching programme on energy tariffs.

Claire Perry: Ofgem are implementing a number of remedies which aim to increase engagement for those customers that have been on standard variable tariffs for 3 or more years. Following their first trial between February and April this year Ofgem plans to run second collective switching trial this autumn.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2018 to Question 164267 on Wind Power: Seas and Oceans, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the recommendation by the National Infrastructure Commission’s to move offshore wind into Pot 1.

Claire Perry: The Government will respond to the National Infrastructure Commission’s Assessment in due course but there are no plans to move offshore wind into Pot 1.

Cement and Iron and Steel: Coal

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has he made of the effect on the supply of coal for the UK (a) cement and (b) steel industry after the UK leaves the EU (i) with and (ii) without a deal; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Coal is a globally traded commodity and the UK steel and cement industry can source coal domestically and through imports. Coal from the EU only represented 3% of UK coal imports in 2017. The Government believes that it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal. This remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that we will reach a mutually advantageous deal with the EU. However, in the unlikely event of a no deal scenario we have developed contingency plans to minimise any potential disruption as much as possible.

Energy: Prices

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he made of the cost of electricity being supplied by utility companies without charge to the user.

Claire Perry: The Department does not hold data on the cost of electricity supplied by energy companies without charge. Ofgem regularly reports on energy customer debt as part of the monitoring of their Consumer Vulnerability Strategy. Their latest report can be found online at:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/consumer-vulnerability-strategy

Energy: Prices

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with utility companies on reducing the number of instances where electricity is supplied without charge to the user.

Claire Perry: BEIS Ministers and officials meet energy companies to discuss a range of issues. Ofgem rules require energy suppliers to engage with their customers when they become aware they may be in payment difficulty and offer the opportunity to repay money owed through a repayment plan. Energy suppliers can ultimately disconnect customers who fail to agree, or stick to an agreed repayment plan. Alternatives to disconnection include recovery of debt directly from certain benefits or the installation of prepayment meter, either by agreement or under a warrant to recover the money owed, but only where it is safe and reasonably practicable to do so. Vulnerable customers, eligible for the Priority Services Register, cannot be disconnected during the winter months (1 October- 31 March) and many suppliers have signed a ‘safety net’, a pledge to never knowingly disconnect a vulnerable customer at any time of year. Suppliers should signpost vulnerable customers in debt to impartial advice and specialist support services, such as the Extra Help Unit, run by Citizens Advice.

Renewable Energy

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to support the development of renewable energy schemes.

Claire Perry: On 23 July we announced that the next auction in the Contract for Difference support scheme for renewable electricity generation will open by May next year, and that we plan to set out the parameters of the auction later this year. I also announced our intention to run subsequent auctions around every two years after that.

Lighting: EU Action

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has been made of the effect of proposed changes to stage lighting under the EU energy efficiency regulations on (a) the UK arts industry and (b) other sectors such as schools.

Claire Perry: Since BEIS officials raised this issue with the Commission we have seen a new draft of the regulation which now includes a technical exemption for stage lighting. Prior to voting at the Regulatory Committee, due to take place at the end of the year, we will carry out a cost benefit analysis for the UK, and will continue to consult on the draft regulation and listen to any concerns raised by interested parties.

Manufacturing Industries: Energy

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what financial support his Department has made available to manufacturing industries to manage energy costs.

Claire Perry: BEIS currently provides compensation to Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) including steel, paper and chemicals for the indirect costs of the Small-Scale Feed-In-Tariff (FIT), European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and Carbon Price Support Mechanism (CPS) which electricity suppliers pass on to businesses. We have provided over £820 million since 2013.

Manufacturing Industries: Carbon Emissions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of EU carbon reduction policies on the sustainability of UK manufacturing industries.

Claire Perry: The UK’s overall approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is set out in the 2008 Climate Change Act, which requires the UK to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. This is consistent with wider EU carbon reduction objectives. The UK currently has a range of policies to ensure we meet our targets while maximising economic benefits to the UK, set out in the Clean Growth Strategy. The Government is taking action to help manufacturing industries to decarbonise while maintaining competitiveness as part of our Industrial Strategy. This includes long-term decarbonisation plans for key sectors, and early work on sector deals in the manufacturing sector.

Central Heating: Sales

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the process of accreditation is for (a) traders and (b) employees of companies installing new central heating systems paid for with (a) Government grants, (b) levy schemes and (c) other green energy initiatives.

Claire Perry: For the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, traders must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), or equivalent quality assurance body. All installations must be carried out by an MCS (or equivalent) installer and certified as having been installed in accordance with the MCS installation standard specified in the regulations (or an equivalent standard). Details of the certification process for traders can be found at: https://www.microgenerationcertification.org/installers-manufacturers/The RHI accreditation process is set out on the Ofgem website, and can be found at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/non-domestic-rhi and https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/domestic-rhi

Energy: EU Law

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which body is planned to enforce the EU-derived climate regulations that govern the UK energy market after they are transposed into domestic law; and whether the Government plans for there to be any role for the proposed new environmental watchdog in such enforcement.

Claire Perry: A consultation document was published on 10 May seeking views on proposals for a new statutory policy statement on environmental principles and an independent statutory environmental body to be created through the Environment Bill. The consultation also sought views on the subject matter which should be within the scope of the new environmental body. The consultation closed on 2 August and responses are currently being analysed. The response to the consultation will be published alongside the draft Bill in the autumn

Electricity: Storage

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) update the definition of electricity storage and (b) tackle double charging and other regulatory disparities.

Claire Perry: In our Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, published last year, the Government committed to amending the Electricity Act 1989 to define electricity storage as a distinct subset of generation in primary legislation, when parliamentary time allows. This is an important measure to improve regulatory clarity for electricity storage, and one that we will honour.The Plan also addressed the issue of storage operators overpaying certain levies and charges. Ofgem has consulted on a new modified generation licence for storage facilities and will respond to this consultation shortly. Storage providers that hold this licence will not pay towards certain levies (the Renewables Obligation, Feed in Tariff, Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market auctions costs). The Government has also clarified that the electricity received and stored by electricity storage facilities may be supplied to them free from the Climate Change Levy where relevant conditions are met.Ofgem outlined in their Targeted Charging Review Consultation, their view that storage is currently overpaying network charges and stated that the industry is best placed to take forward these changes. Industry has now raised these code modifications, and these are now going through industry governance.

Wind Power

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring onshore windfarm developers to offer property owners within a set proximity to a windfarm the option of having their property purchased at market value by those developers.

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to compensate people for their loss of property value arising from close proximity to wind farms.

Claire Perry: We have no plans at this time to bring forward legislative proposals to compensate residents for loss of property value.

Energy: Prices

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that utility companies pass on decreases in wholesale energy prices to consumers.

Claire Perry: The Domestic Gas & Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act places a duty on Ofgem to set a temporary price cap on standard variable and default tariffs. On 6th September 2018, Ofgem published a statutory consultation, in which they propose a methodology for setting the cap level which takes account of supplier costs including for the wholesale cost of energy. Ofgem propose setting the initial level of the cap at £1,136 and will update the cap on a regular basis to reflect changes in costs, including wholesale energy prices.

Renewable Energy: Expenditure

Maggie Throup: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much money the Government has invested in wave and tidal stream technologies since 2010.

Claire Perry: There is no single data repository for historical information on cross-government investment into energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D). The best available record of government investment in renewable energy technologies is the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Energy Technology RD&D Budget Database, which this Department and its predecessor (Department of Energy and Climate Change) contribute to. The IEA’s database allows users to track trends in spending by energy technology in IEA countries back to 1974 and can be found at: http://www.iea.org/statistics/rdd/. However, including other spending beyond that included in the IEA statistics, since 2008, the Government has invested over £60m in marine energy research, development, demonstration and deployment contributing towards both wave and tidal stream energy.

Carbon Emissions

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the feasibility of a UK net emissions target of zero before 2050.

Claire Perry: The Clean Growth Strategy made clear that the Government believes the UK will need to legislate for a net zero emissions target at an appropriate point in the future. We announced in April that we will seek the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emissions reductions targets, once the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change publish their special report on 1.5°C later this year. We will consider the CCC’s advice carefully when it is received.

Climate Change Convention

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the UK meets its commitments under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Claire Perry: The UK is making strong progress towards its commitments under the Paris Agreement. Between 1990 and 2016, we reduced our emissions by over 40 per cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds. Our Clean Growth Strategy, published last year, set out our policies and proposals for decarbonising the UK economy through the 2020s while maximising the advantages from the global shift to clean growth for UK businesses. We are also committed to helping developing countries meet their Paris Agreement commitments - the UK is among the largest contributors of climate finance, committing to provide at least £5.8 billion from 2016 to 2020, to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, reduce deforestation and support cleaner economic growth. Latest results of our investments are available from: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-climate-finance#our-results.

Pay

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to replace the living wage and national minimum wage with one minimum wage.

Kelly Tolhurst: Through the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NMW) the Government protects the lowest paid within our society.The Government sets differentiated and age-related minimum wage rates to protect younger workers who are more vulnerable to being unemployed than older workers.These are set based on the independent and expert advice of the Low Pay Commission.Since the NLW was introduced in April 2016, a full-time worker on the NLW will earn over £2,000 more than someone working the same hours on the 2015 NMW. In April this year, those aged 18-20 and 21-24 experienced the greatest rise in the NMW in a decade.

Energy Company Obligation

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much each of the Big Six energy companies allocated to the Energy Company Obligation in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will list the energy companies that have contributed to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) in each of the last five years; and how much has been allocated to the ECO by each of those companies.

Claire Perry: The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme started in January 2013 and requires obligated energy suppliers to install energy efficiency and heating measures to people’s homes in England, Scotland and Wales. ECO is funded at £640 million per annum (2017 prices, rising with inflation). At the start of each scheme, suppliers have been set targets (measured in either carbon emission reductions or bill saving reductions) that they need to achieve. The table below sets out which suppliers have been obligated under the scheme between 2013 and 2018. There are currently fifteen obligated suppliers. More suppliers are likely to be obligated under ECO3, starting later this year, as the obligation thresholds will be lowered from 250,000 customer accounts to 200,000 and then 150,000. The report on how obligated suppliers met their ECO1 targets is available at:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/energy-companies-obligation-eco1-final-report The report on how obligated suppliers met their ECO2 targets is available at:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/energy-company-obligation-eco2-csco-final-report  Energy Company Obligation 2013 – 2018: Obligated Energy Suppliers 2013-20142014-20152015-20162016-20172017-2018 British GasBritish GasBritish GasBritish GasBritish GasEDF Energy Customers plcCo-operative EnergyCo-operative EnergyCo-operative EnergyCo-operative EnergyEONEDF EnergyEDF EnergyEDF EnergyEconomy EnergyFirst Utility LtdEONEONEONEDF EnergyNpowerFirst Utility LtdFirst Utility LtdExtra EnergyEONScottish Power Energy Retail LimitedNpowerNpowerFirst Utility LtdExtra EnergySSEOvoOvoNpowerFirst Utility Scottish Power Energy Retail LimitedScottish Power Energy Retail LimitedOvoFlow Energy SSESSEScottish Power Energy Retail LimitedNpower The Utility WarehouseThe Utility WarehouseSSEOvo  UtilitaThe Utility WarehouseScottish Power Energy Retail Limited   UtilitaSpark EnergySSEThe Utility WarehouseUtilita

Companies: Ownership

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for offences related to the non-disclosure of Person of Significant Control of UK companies; and what the total amount of fines imposed was for such offences for the most recent period for which data is available.

Kelly Tolhurst: (a) From June 2016 (when Persons of Significant Control criminal offences came into force) to September 2018 criminal proceedings have been issued against 99 individuals (directors) and 89 companies. (b) 5 individuals have been convicted - 4 convictions were for offences contrary to section 790VA Companies Act 2006 (failing to update Companies House with details of relevant entries to a company’s PSC Register.) A further 4 companies were convicted of the same offence. 1 individual has been convicted of an offence contrary to section 790F Companies Act 2006 (failing to make relevant enquiries relating to a company’s PSC). 2 companies have been convicted of the same offence. (c) The total amount of fines for these offences is £7,000.

Living Wage

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the National Living Wage on the economy; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: In April 2016, the Government introduced a new National Living Wage (NLW). This year increases in the minimum wage gave over two million of the lowest paid workers a pay rise of over 2 per cent in real terms. Over the year, full time workers aged 25 and over on the NLW will see their earnings grow by more than £600. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) draw upon a wide range of independent research and stakeholder consultation in monitoring the impact of the NLW. To date, they have found limited evidence of an impact on hours worked and employment.

Companies: Ownership

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to empower Companies House to identify and report suspicious activity in the persons of significant control register; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: Companies House already work very closely with UK law enforcement bodies and routinely share intelligence with them. This includes information that they have received or identified that may indicate suspicious activity. Companies House also assists UK law enforcement with over 120 investigations each month.

New Businesses

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to empower Companies House to undertake due diligence checks on firms and individuals setting up UK companies; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: There are current plans to require Companies House to do this. However, once the outcome of the Financial Action Task Force evaluation of the UK’s anti-money laundering regime is known later this year, I will be considering options to reform the company registration process including what information is disclosed, and how assurance is provided over that information.

Foreign Companies: Registration

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what processes he plans to put in place to ensure that all information submitted to the register of overseas entities is accurate.

Kelly Tolhurst: The register of overseas entities will be held by Companies House. Companies House is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the current companies register and will work to ensure that, as far as possible, the data contained on the overseas entities register is accurate.Companies House will continue to work closely with enforcement agencies, sharing information and helping to identify patterns of suspicious behaviour.In addition, the draft Registration of Overseas Entities Bill contains a number of sanctions, including criminal offences and restrictions on the transfer of land, to incentivise compliance.

Companies: Registration

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for offences relating to filing false information with Companies House under section 1112 of the Companies Act 2006 in each of the last 5 years.

Kelly Tolhurst: Since January 2013, criminal proceedings have been instituted by the Department against one person for two offences under s1112 Companies Act 2006. A guilty plea was entered to one offence and the second was withdrawn.

Digital Technology

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of digital monopolies.

Kelly Tolhurst: Responsibility for identifying market-wide competition issues falls to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s independent competition authority. The Government recently announced an expert panel to look at competition in the digital economy. Its role includes providing an independent voice on digital markets to support the ongoing review of competition law, details of which were set out in the Modernising Consumer Markets green paper.

Employment: Pregnancy

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of workplace support provided to pregnant women and new mothers.

Kelly Tolhurst: There is a range of advice and guidance available for pregnant women and new mothers and their employers. This sets out legal rights and obligations, and good practice - supporting pregnant women and new mothers in the workplace. It is periodically reviewed – for instance, we are currently looking at the advice and guidance on GOV.UK regarding pregnancy and maternity discrimination to see how we can improve it.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Jake Berry: Other than my noble Friend, Lord Bourne, the Minister for Faith and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales, there are no other members of the House of Lords in the employ of the Department or our agencies.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Mobile Phones

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a list of the mobile phone applications developed by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of developing of each of those applications.

Jake Berry: I confirm that the Department and its agencies have not developed any mobile phone applications in the last three years.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Brexit

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the 2018-19 Main Estimates, published in April 2018, how much funding his Department has allocated to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

Jake Berry: HM Treasury has already allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to departments and the devolved administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This includes the £1.5 billion of additional funding HM Treasury announced at Autumn Budget 2017 for 2018/19. A full breakdown of how this was allocated to departments can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13 March (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/). This money will be paid out in Supplementary Estimates 18/19 later this financial year.

Refuges: Females

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what Government funding has been allocated for women’s refuges in each year from 2015 to 2020.

Nigel Adams: Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime that nobody should have to suffer. The Government is committed to protecting victims of domestic abuse. In the 2015 Spending Review Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) secured £40 million for domestic abuse services, including refuges. From the £40 million, MHCLG has allocated the following amounts to local authorities through competitive funding rounds:£10 million across 2014-2016, including around £3 million in 2014-2015 and £7 million in 2015-2016, which helped 148 local authorities in England strengthen refuge provision for victims and offer support to women from outside their own area.£3.5 million across 2015-2016 which supported 46 local authorities in England and their partners to deliver 710 new bed spaces in refuges and other types of safe accommodation for 3,798 victims of domestic abuse.£20 million across 2016-2018, including around £3.5 million in 2016-2017 and £16.5 million in 2017-2018, which includes £1.1 million of top-up funding. The fund supported 80 projects across 258 local authorities in England, helping to create more than 2,000 bed spaces in refuges and other types of safe accommodation and giving support to over 19,000 victims and their families.On 2 July we launched a further £18.8 million fund for domestic abuse services, including refuge, to cover 2018-2020. The fund was open to all local authorities across England to bid for a share, and we will be announcing the successful projects in due course.Additionally, since 2015 MHCLG have provided almost £889,000 to Women’s Aid for two projects, Routes to Support and No Woman Turned Away. Routes to Support (formerly UK Refuges Online) is part-funded by the Government and is a UK-wide online database containing information about domestic abuse and other violence against women services, including refuge. No Woman Turned Away provides additional caseworker support to women facing difficulties in accessing refuge. We are continuing to fund these vital projects in 2018/19.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Appointments

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic background of people appointed to senior positions in his Department in the last five years.

Jake Berry: The Civil Service is currently looking at the best way to start implementing the measures published earlier in June across Government Departments, to better understand the background of people appointed in senior positions.The Government is committed to social mobility, and we are committed to creating an organisation in which everybody can thrive.

Ministry of Defence

Veterans

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of veterans in (a) the UK, (b) the North East and (c) Easington constituency.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: An estimated distribution of the UK Armed Forces veteran population residing in Great Britain can be found in the 'Annual Population Survey: UK Armed Forces Veterans Residing in Great Britain', the latest edition of which (2016) is published at the following address:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/annual-population-survey-uk-armed-forces-veterans-residing-in-great-britainAs at 2016, there were an estimated 2.5 million UK Armed Forces veterans residing in households across Great Britain and 125,000 veterans living in households in the North East region of England.The total number of veterans in Easington constituency is not held. However, information is held by constituency on the cohort of veterans awarded compensation under the War Pension Scheme (WPS) and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). As at 31 March 2018, there were 348 veterans in receipt of a disablement pension under the WPS, and 29 veterans who received compensation under the AFCS residing in the Easington Constituency.

Ministry of Defence: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence does not hold a central record of roles held, either paid or unpaid, by Members of the House of Lords.However, I can confirm that The Rt Hon Earl Howe is the current Minister of State for Defence and serves in an unpaid capacity.

Armed Forces: Mental Illness

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what records his Department makes of mental health conditions experienced by (a) serving armed forces personnel and (b) veterans.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) serving armed forces personnel and (b) veterans who are currently experiencing mental health problems.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains an electronic patient record for serving UK Armed Forces personnel, which has a centralised data warehouse of coded information. From this and data from the MOD's in-patient care contractor, the Government publishes annual statistics on mental health in the Armed Forces. This summarises all initial assessments for a new episode of care of personnel at MOD Specialist Mental Health Services (Departments of Community Mental Health for outpatient care and all admissions to the MOD's in-patient care contractor) by financial year (FY). The latest bulletin was published in June 2018 and provides Armed Forces mental health statistics for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2018. This can be viewed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717033/20180621_Mental_Health_Annual_Report_17-18_O.pdf This shows that in FY 2017-18, the latest period for which figures are available, 3.1% of personnel had a mental health disorder assessed at MOD Specialist Mental Health Services. The bulletin does not include data on patients treated for mental health problems wholly within the primary care setting by their GP or medical officer. Defence Statistics is planning to carry out work in the future to estimate the number of personnel treated in this setting. Information on all veterans who are currently experiencing mental health problems is not held by the MOD. The provision of veterans' mental healthcare is the responsibility of the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations. Priority access for veterans with service attributable conditions is provided in England, Scotland and Wales subject to the clinical need of others. The MOD does hold some information on specific veteran cohorts experiencing mental health problems. As at 31 March 2018 there were 638 veterans in receipt of an ongoing Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for Mental Disorders. Also, as at 31 March 2018 there were a minimum of 13,452 Disablement pensioners in receipt of an ongoing War Pension to compensate for Service attributable Mental Disorders.

RAF Cosford: Air Displays

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the future of the RAF Cosford Airshow; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: A self-funded event, the successful 2018 Cosford Air Show attracted a capacity crowd of approximately 60,000 visitors. It raised around £100,000 for the RAF100 Appeal and local charities. Arrangements for the 2019 Air Show have commenced, which will again be self-funding, with the aim of benefiting charitable causes. The planned date for the show will be 9 June 2019.

Veterans: Employment

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) number and (b) proportion of service personnel who leave the armed forces secure new employment (i) within one month, (ii) between one month and two months, (iii) between two months and three months, (iv) between three months and six months, (v) between six months and one year and (vi) one year after leaving the armed forces.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of service personnel who leave the armed forces each year who (i) set up their own business and (ii) become self-employed.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence publishes regular statistics on employment outcomes, six months after leaving Service, for UK Regular and Gurkha Service personnel who have left the UK Armed Forces and accessed employment support provided by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). The latest publication can be found at the following address:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/career-transition-partnership-ex-service-personnel-employment-outcomes-financial-year-201617.

RAF Cosford

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the future of RAF Cosford.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: RAF Cosford, which is home to the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering, remains a key site in the delivery of technical training.

Ministry of Defence: Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department uses Office for National Statistics estimates of personal well-being when formulating policy; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national well-being in the last 12 months.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) consults relevant National Statistics when formulating policy. The Department's well-being policies are designed to have a positive impact on Service personnel and MOD civilian staff.In July 2017 the MOD launched the Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2022, a copy of which can be found at the following address:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-people-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy.

Syria: Chemical Weapons

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the US envoy for Syria and (b) his American counterpart on whether there is evidence that Syrian Government forces are preparing a chemical weapons attack.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Defence Secretary has regular conversations with the US Defense Secretary on a range of subjects including the Syrian Regime's use of chemical weapons. Since 2012, the Regime has resorted to the use of chemical weapons during military offensives on many occasions, including in Khan Sheikhun in 2017 and Douma in 2018, killing and injuring thousands of people. Along with the US and French Permanent Representatives to the UN, on 21 August 2018 the UK issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over reports of a military offensive by the Syrian Regime against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Idlib, and the resulting humanitarian consequences, underlining our concern at the potential for further - and illegal - use of chemical weapons, and confirming that we will respond appropriately if the Assad regime repeats its appalling use of chemical weapons.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants there are at each grade in his Department.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of civil servants by grade is published by the Department on the Gov.UK website in the Biannual Civilian Personnel Report (BCPR) (Table 2), a link to this is below: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-biannual-civilian-personnel-report-2018  The table below gives the numbers of civil servants at each grade in the ministry of Defence as at 1 April 2018:Civilian personnel by grade equivalence1(Full Time Equivalent)FTE20181 AprilCivilian Total 56,865 Non-Industrial Total 30,143 Senior Civil Service & Equivalent2202Band B1 & Equivalent464Band B2 & Equivalent1,408Band C1 & Equivalent3,411Band C2 & Equivalent6,399Band D & Equivalent6,192Band E1 & Equivalent8,871Band E2 & Equivalent3,149Other346Industrial Total 4,305 Firefighter748Skill Zone 4276Skill Zone 31,244Skill Zone 21,428Skill Zone 1604Apprentice5Royal Fleet Auxiliary 4 1,918 DE&S Trading Entity  10,243 Trading Fund & Executive Agencies Total 4 6,032 Locally engaged civilians 4 4,224 1. Grade equivalence is shown in terms of the broader banding structure and is based on paid grade.2. Includes personnel outside the Senior Civil Service but of equivalent grade, primarily Senior Medical Specialists.3. 'Other' represents core civilian personnel for whom no grade information is available.4. Data by grade are not available for Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Trading Funds, Executive Agency and Locally engaged civilians.

Armed Forces: Housing

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of housing options for armed forces families.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence is committed to giving Service personnel flexibility and choice in where, how and with whom they live. That is why the Future Accommodation Model will use a combination of existing Service accommodation and the private rental sector. We are currently planning the implementation of a pilot at a small number of bases.

NATO: Military Exercises

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2018 to Question 169203 on NATO: Military Exercises, what assets his Department had planned to deploy on Exercise Dynamic Mongoose.

Mark Lancaster: I am unable to release information regarding the assets that were withdrawn from Exercise Dynamic Mongoose as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Defence: Procurement

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the written statement of 14 December 2017, HCWS351,on Single Source Procurement Legislation: Review,  when he plans to make the further statement.

Gavin Williamson: The review of single source legislation, completed in December 2017, identified several changes that could improve the operation of the framework. I asked for further work on how these might be implemented, including an extensive process of cross-Whitehall engagement. This work is nearing completion and we expect to publish our full response shortly.

Defence Equipment

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the defence equipment plan 2018.

Stuart Andrew: The Ministry of Defence has committed to publish the Equipment Plan for 2018 in the autumn.

Ministry of Defence: Public Appointments

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic background of people appointed to senior positions in his Department in the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Civil Service is currently looking at the best way to start implementing the measures published in June across Government Departments, to better understand the background of people appointed in senior positions.The Government is committed to social mobility, and we are committed to creating an organisation in which everybody can thrive.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

David Mundell: The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland has one member of the House of Lords in a paid role. Two members of the House of Lords carry out occasional limited activities in support of the department on an unpaid basis.

Mobile Phones: Scotland

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on ensuring that residents in Scotland will remain able to use mobile communication across the EU without paying roaming charges after 29 March 2019.

David Mundell: I am in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and other Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including mobile connectivity in Scotland. The Government recognises that there are specific consumer measures associated with the Digital Single Market. The White Paper on the UK’s exit from the EU proposes new arrangements for services and digital sectors, recognising that the UK and the EU will not have current levels of access to each other’s markets. That approach would not preclude discussions with the EU on arrangements for consumers, for example in the area of mobile roaming.

Scotland Office: Public Appointments

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic background of people appointed to senior positions in his Department in the last five years.

David Mundell: The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government departments, who remain the employers. Detailed information on the socio-economic background of people appointed to all positions would be retained by the parent employers.

Scotland Office: Sick Leave

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the number of days of sick leave taken by staff in his Department for mental health reasons in each year since 2010.

David Mundell: The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government departments, who remain the employers. These Departments have their own absence management policies and recording processes that apply to those of their staff working in the office. Detailed reasons for absence attributable to mental illness and other sickness absence is not retained by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The office takes the mental health and general wellbeing of staff very seriously and works alongside the employing departments to ensure that anyone who is experiencing issues receives support and assistance.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress he has made on UK-third country free trade agreements.

George Hollingbery: We are working with countries across the world to explore the best ways to develop our current trade and investment relationships and have established working groups and high-level dialogues with a range of key trade partners. Working Group discussions include preparatory work on the potential of future trade agreements towards pursuing an independent trade policy once we have left the EU.Last July, we launched four public consultations on prospective new agreements with the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as the UK’s potential membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.As a priority, we are seeking continuity of all our existing EU trade agreements. We have had positive discussions with our trading partners towards achieving a smooth transition for businesses and consumers. Ministers and officials are engaging regularly with partner countries to complete this work.

Department for International Trade: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

George Hollingbery: The Department for International Trade has one member of the Ministerial Team who is a member of the House of Lords who is unpaid.There are also 10 PM Trade Envoys who are members of the House of Lords, this is an unpaid, voluntary role.

Export Controls

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many applications for licences to export controlled goods were denied under article 2c of the consolidated criteria; and which countries were named as the countries to export in those denied applications in each of the last 10 years.

Graham Stuart: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Trade: Brexit

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the 2018-19 Main Estimates, published in April 2018, how much funding his Department has allocated to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

George Hollingbery: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Trade: Africa

Andrew Rosindell: What recent discussions he has had on trade and investment with African governments.

George Hollingbery: I have recently returned from Africa, where I joined the Prime Minister on her successful visit. During the visit, I met with my Ministerial counterparts and I am pleased to say we have advanced work to transition the SACU + M trade agreement in Southern Africa.

Overseas Trade: Israel

Victoria Prentis: What recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on trade with Israel of the UK leaving the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Graham Stuart: As we leave the European Union, we are seeking continuity for our existing EU free trade agreements and other EU preferential arrangements. The UK-Israel Trade Working Group is making positive progress towards transitioning the EU – Israel Association Agreement, to maintain our strong trade and investment relationship with Israel.

Board of Trade

Mary Robinson: What progress the Board of Trade has made on its work programme.

Dr Liam Fox: The Board of Trade champions exports, as well as inward and outward investment to deliver economic growth and prosperity across the whole of the UK. The Board has met four times, has launched two successful programmes: the BOFTAs and the National Trade Academy Programme - celebrating innovative British exporters and encouraging young people to pursue careers in international trade.

Trade

Vicky Ford: What his priorities are for the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting on 14 September 2018.

Dr Liam Fox: At the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting I will voice our continued support for the multilateral trading system and call on all G20 countries to be WTO compliant. I will make the case against protectionism, emphasise that disputes should not be resolved through unilateral action, but through the multilateral route. I will also be discussing the New Industrial Revolution and will champion the importance of digital trade.

Trade Agreements: USA

Tom Pursglove: What steps he is taking to secure a free trade agreement with the US.

Dr Liam Fox: In July 2017 I launched the UK/US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on four occasions. As well as looking at delivering continuity for British business post-EU exit, this group is laying the groundwork for an ambitious UK/US free Trade Agreement.

Exports: Saudi Arabia

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: Whether his Department takes into account information from the Joint Incident Assessment Team when determining an application for a licence to export to Saudi Arabia.

Graham Stuart: We take a wide range of relevant information into account, including information from the Joint Incidents Assessment Team.

Women and Equalities

Homosexuality: Psychiatry

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: When she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to end the practice of gay conversion therapy.

Victoria Atkins: Conversion therapy is wrong and we are not willing to let it continue. That is why we are committed to bringing forward proposals to end this abhorrent practice in the UK. We recognise this is a complex issue that we need to get right. Officials in the Government Equalities Office are working with stakeholders to consider all legislative and non-legislative options and will announce further detail on the matter in due course.

Department for Transport

Railways: Franchises

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department requires operators of rail franchises to have a standard claims policy for delayed trains.

Joseph Johnson: The minimum standards for delay compensation are set out in the National Rail Conditions of Travel (NRCoT). Franchised Train Operating Companies (TOCs) are required to have in place a Passenger’s Charter which includes their specific arrangements for compensation for passengers, with most franchised TOCs offering more than the NRCoT minimum. The Department for Transport has improved the compensation offer by introducing the Delay Repay scheme on all franchises that have been awarded since 2007. Delay Repay is now in place on the majority of franchised TOCs and provides compensation of at least 50% of the ticket price for delays to journeys of 30 minutes or more, whatever the cause of the delay or cancellation and whatever the type of ticket. The Department has further improved the compensation offer by introducing Delay Repay for delays of 15 minutes or more. This now operates on GTR, South Western, West Midlands and c2c and is being introduced on other franchises as these come up for renewal.

Railways: Tickets

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether guarantees are in place to ensure that self-service ticket machines provide the cheapest available tickets for the time of day and week on which a journey is to be made.

Joseph Johnson: The Office of Rail and Road has asked all train companies to introduce a voluntary ‘TVM Price Guarantee’ whereby they commit to refund the additional costs where the passenger could have purchased a cheaper ticket. This year all 17 train companies that use TVMs now have a TVM Price Guarantee in place. Train companies bidding for new franchises are asked to provide information about any price guarantees in place, which is taken into account in the way bids are assessed, and are required to adopt the Rail Delivery Group’s TVM Design Guidelines for new and upgraded ticket machines.

Railways: Concessions

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the national roll out of the 26-30 railcard scheme.

Joseph Johnson: The Department continues to liaise closely with the rail industry as it runs its trial of the railcard to understand the potential commercial impacts. This represents a good example of the public and private sectors working together to bring about an initiative that both benefits passengers and brings about growth in rail travel. We expect the industry to confirm arrangements for a full roll out in due course.

Railways: Invalid Vehicles

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory requirement for companies to allow mobility scooters to carried on their carriages as a condition of application to operate future rail franchises.

Joseph Johnson: Currently all train operating companies will carry mobility scooters which can be folded. Most can also carry unfolded mobility scooters, provided that they do not exceed the measurements of the ‘reference’ wheelchair and can meet certain manoeuvrability criteria - such as turning circle and the ability to safely propel (or be propelled) on to the train via a boarding ramp. Decisions on the safe carriage of mobility scooters, which may depend on individual platform widths and heights, are best made by the train operating company and communicated to passengers via its mandatory Disabled People’s Protection Policy.

Rail Delivery Group

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the remit of the Rail Delivery Group includes industrial relations in the rail industry.

Joseph Johnson: The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) brings together the companies that run Britain’s railway under a single body to provide services and support, to represent and give a voice to freight and passenger operators and the supply chain. The day to day responsibility for managing local industrial relations and the workforce in the rail sector lies with the individual employers, however, RDG has a role in coordinating its members’ views on a range of issues and initiatives, including those that could have industrial relations implications.

Railways: Standards

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if it his policy to maintain European Railway Agency rules in respect of specifications (a) on common track width and (b) uniform platform heights after the UK leaves the EU.

Chris Grayling: Once we have left the EU we intend to have the flexibility to shape our domestic railway legislation to reflect the unique characteristics of the rail network within the UK, which for example could include platform heights. While any divergence relating to technical specifications will be carefully managed and the impacts fully assessed, the precise nature of any future arrangements are still subject to negotiation.

Aviation

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the conclusions of the report, UK Aviation Consumer Survey published by the Civil Aviation Authority 18 August 2018, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the reduction in airline passenger satisfaction rates between 2016 and 2018.

Jesse Norman: A range of research, including the Civil Aviation Authority’s UK Aviation Consumer Survey, will feed into the Government’s Aviation Strategy, due for publication mid-2019. This is a consumer focussed, evidence-led strategy that will explore policy options for aviation to 2050 and beyond.

Railways: North of England

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress is being made on plans for electrification of the trans-pennine railway line.

Joseph Johnson: We are working with Network Rail and Transport for the North to determine the best way to achieve major improvements for passengers on the Transpennine Route and will make further decisions on how this will be implemented later this year.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Working Hours

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many lorry drivers were fined for driving over their allotted time limits in 2017.

Jesse Norman: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are responsible for enforcing the drivers’ hours rules. In 2017, in England, Scotland and Wales (for the period 1st January to 31st December), DVSA issued 482 fixed penalty notices and 120 prosecutions that resulted in a fine, for exceeding drivers’ hours limits. During the course of this period a given driver could have been issued with more than one fine.

Department for Transport: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: We do not hold a central record of all those who hold roles, either paid or unpaid, who are members of the House of Lords.

Thameslink Industry Readiness Board

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2018 to Question 149570 on Thameslink Industry Readiness Board, whether anybody not associated with the parties represented at the Thameslink Industry Readiness Board has attended any meetings of that Board.

Joseph Johnson: Meetings of the Thameslink Industry Readiness Board have only been attended by representatives of the parties listed in the reply to Question 149570.

M54: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Highways England road maintenance plan for the M54.

Jesse Norman: Highways England carry out a safety inspection of the M54 every 7 days to ensure the carriageway and physical infrastructure are in a safe condition for the travelling public. The condition of the road surface is inspected for safety defects at the same time and an additional comprehensive inspection is carried out annually. The results from these inspections are then reviewed by Highways England: if schemes are required for necessary improvements then these are designed and developed. Highways England recently completed a resurfacing of the eastbound carriageway between junction 2 of the M54 and junction 10a of the M6 in May 2018. The westbound carriageway works for the same junctions were also completed in July. Highways England have two schemes which are planned for the M54. M54 Junction 2 – Junction 3 barrier repairs are planned for later this year and M54 Junction 7, Wrong Way Driving Mitigation, is planned for early in 2019. Highways England are currently developing their maintenance investment plan for the next financial year and any further improvements to the M54 will be announced in due course.

Public Transport: Rural Areas

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with Arriva buses to ensure that its statutory obligations relating to access to public transport in rural areas are upheld.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Outside of London, the bus market in England is deregulated. Bus operators have no statutory obligations to make public transport available in particular areas. Where there is not enough demand for a bus route to be commercially viable in its own right, all local authorities have powers to subsidise bus services where they are considered socially necessary. However, the Government understands how important public transport is for those living in rural areas. Ministers from the Department regularly hold discussions with a wide range of bus operators, including Arriva where rural bus service provision is a key focal point of discussion.

Air Routes: Scotland

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to meet representatives of Heathrow Airport to discuss the provision of additional flights to Scotland.

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the planned introduction of additional flights between Heathrow and Scottish airports after the construction of a third runway at Heathrow.

Jesse Norman: Expansion at Heathrow is expected to deliver 100 additional flights to and from Scotland per week. Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) believes that if it receives development consent by 2022, it will start construction soon after and that the new runway can be operational and in passenger use by 2026. While the exact timing for the introduction of new flights will be for HAL and it partners determine, the Airports National Policy Statement requires HAL to work constructively with its airline customers to strengthen existing routes and develop new connections. Ministers and officials regularly meet with HAL to discuss various issues, including domestic connectivity. Furthermore, the Department and HAL agreed in their Relationship Framework Document to establish a Domestic Connectivity Forum later this year to discuss the provision of these additional routes to Scotland, alongside the other commitments made on domestic connectivity.

Railways: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals for the electricification of the Durham Coast Line to facilitate the future expansion of Tyne and Wear metro services into the Easington constituency.

Joseph Johnson: We welcome Nexus’ plans for further development of the Metro system to deliver better services to passengers, and stand ready to discuss the business case and funding for specific proposals. Any request for central Government enhancements funding would be considered against the priorities and principles set out in the Government’s March 2018 Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline publication. The Government is supporting the Tyne and Wear Metro system with £317 million for its reinvigoration and renewal programme and £229 million towards its running costs since 2010. Furthermore, in the 2017 Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a £337m direct grant to deliver a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro. Through the New Stations Fund the Department is also supporting the construction of a new station at Horden Peterlee in the Hon. Member’s constituency.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on pavement parking.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport recognises that pavement parking can cause serious problems for pedestrians, and particularly for people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments. Local authorities already have powers to prohibit pavement parking using Traffic Regulation Orders. The Department is currently gathering evidence to understand whether this system is working effectively.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the Government's review of pavement parking following the withdrawal of the Pavement Parking (Protection of Vulnerable Pedestrians) Bill 2015-16.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport is currently gathering evidence on pavement parking in order to understand whether the current legislation is working effectively and how it might be improved. The evidence gathered will help the Department to consider any future change of policy. This work will be complete by the end of 2018.

Bus Services

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of buses in (a) England and (b) the North East have next stop announcements.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government believes that transport should work for everyone and passengers should have the information they need to connect them with the places they want to go to. There is currently no single source which captures data on on-board announcements. For bus operators, the decision of whether to provide audible and visible information has, to date, been a commercial one. However, the Government has begun to collect data on the number of buses which are equipped with facilities to provide audible and visible next stop information. We will publish this data later this year as part of our annual bus statistics. In July this year we also launched a consultation to require the provision of audible and visible information on local services in Great Britain.

Motor Vehicles: Inspections

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many roadside checks his Department carried out on commercial vehicles in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017.

Jesse Norman: Roadside checks are conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The number of roadside checks carried out on commercial vehicles in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017 cannot be provided due to disproportionate costs.

Department for Transport: Mobile Phones

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a list of the mobile phone applications developed by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of developing of each of those applications.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department for Transport and three of its agencies, including the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), have not developed any mobile phone applications. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), however, has developed two mobile phone applications in the last three years. A Search app and a Tyre Recut app. DVSA’s in-house development team created both the Search and Tyre Recut apps, so there was no material incremental cost to the public purse. A Roadside Payments app was also developed for the DVSA by third parties. The cost of this was £728,000.

East Midlands Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether all bids received for the East Midlands rail franchise have been compliant with the specifications of the tendering process set out by his Department.

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether all bids received for the Southeastern rail franchise are compliant with the specifications of the tendering process set out by his Department.

Joseph Johnson: The Department is currently evaluating bids for the South Eastern and East Midlands competitions. We are unable to confirm the extent to which bids are compliant until the evaluation process has been completed and will make respective announcements on contract award in due course. We are unable to comment further at this stage given the commercially sensitive nature of the procurement process.

East Coast Railway Line

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions took place between his Department and Network Rail in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018 to determine the (i) readiness and (ii) specification of the upgraded signalling system to be used on the East Coast mainline ahead of the introduction of the Intercity Express Programme trains.

Joseph Johnson: The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) Invitation to Tender was published by the Department in 2007. The Invitation to Tender included a technical specification, the purpose of which was to ensure compatibility between the train and infrastructure, by providing railway infrastructure information to support the development of the train design. Therefore Hitachi are required to work with Network Rail to ensure that the train is compatible with the existing East Coast Main Line (ECML) infrastructure. The signalling system on the ECML has not been upgraded ahead of the introduction of the Intercity Express Programme trains.

East Coast Railway Line

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he took to ensure that the new signalling system on the East Coast mainline was at the correct specification to accommodate the new Intercity Express Programme trains.

Joseph Johnson: The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) Invitation to Tender was published by the Department in 2007. The Invitation to Tender included a technical specification, the purpose of which was to ensure compatibility between the train and infrastructure, by providing railway infrastructure information to support the development of the train design. Therefore Hitachi are required to work with Network Rail to ensure that the train is compatible with the existing East Coast Main Line (ECML) infrastructure. There is no ‘new signalling’ system on the East Coast Main Line.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals on drones.

Jesse Norman: In May this year, the Government amended the Air Navigation Order to restrict drones from flying above 400ft and within 1km of an airport boundary. These measures came into effect in July this year. The amendments also introduced the registration of all drone operators with drones of 250g and over, as well as competency tests for remote pilots of drones of 250g and over. These will come into effect in November 2019. The Government is currently consulting on measures to be included in a draft Drones Bill such as greater police powers against the misuse of drones and proposals for regulating and mandating the use of safety ‘apps’ and counter-drone technology. A draft Drones Bill is due to be published shortly.

Railway Stations: Disability

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations with Northern Rail on improving disabled access in train stations (a) in Blackburn and (b) across the North of England.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Inclusive Transport Strategy, strategy published on 25 July 2018, included a commitment to extend our Access for All programme across rail Control Period 6 (2019 to 2024) with an additional £300m of funding from the public purse. We have asked the industry to nominate stations for the new funding by 16 November this year. Nominated stations will be selected based on their annual footfall, weighted by the incidence of disability in the area. We will take into account local factors such as proximity to a hospital or the availability of third party funding for the project. We will also ensure that there is a fair geographical spread of projects across the country.

Railways: Bicycles

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage train operators to allow passengers' bikes on trains.

Joseph Johnson: The Department recognises the value in the integrated use of cycles and trains. We expect our franchisees to ensure that their trains meet the needs of their passengers - including the storage of cycles and luggage - with appropriate interior layouts and seating configurations. Where the Department identifies a specific need, it sets requirements on its franchisees to provide space on its trains for the carriage of bicycles.

Community Transport

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's new guidance on community transport on the operation of (a) Age UK and (b) other charities.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Government consultation on the use of section 19 and section 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain closed on 4 May 2018. The consultation focused on proposals to ensure domestic legislation and guidance are aligned with EU Regulation 1071/2009 on road transport operators. An initial impact assessment looking at the impact on community transport providers, including charities, was published alongside the consultation. To help build a stronger evidence base in relation to the potential impacts of the proposals, the consultation requested information from those providing community transport services as to how they operate. This information, as well as respondents views on the draft guidance, will be considered by the Department when determining the final position. The Government’s response on the outcome of the consultation is due to be announced in the autumn.

Crossrail Line

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department was first made aware of the delayed start to through-running on Crossrail.

Joseph Johnson: The Crossrail Board took the decision to delay the opening of the Elizabeth line central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood on Wednesday 29th August 2018 and Crossrail Limited notified the Secretary of State of that decision on Thursday 30th August 2018.

Crossrail Line

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Mayor of London advised him of the delays to Crossrail.

Joseph Johnson: The Crossrail Board took the decision to delay the opening of the Elizabeth line central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood on Wednesday 29th August 2018. Crossrail Limited – the organisation responsible for constructing the new railway and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Transport for London (which will itself be responsible for operating the new train service) - notified the Secretary of State of that decision on Thursday 30th August 2018.

Department for Transport: Brexit

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the 2018-19 Main Estimates, published in April 2018, how much funding his Department has allocated to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

Chris Grayling: HM Treasury has already allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to departments and the devolved administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This includes the £1.5 billion of additional funding HM Treasury announced at Autumn Budget 2017 for 2018/19. A full breakdown of how this was allocated to departments can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/). This money will be paid out in Supplementary Estimates 18/19 later this financial year.

Roads: Accidents

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of pedestrians killed in road accidents since 2010.

Jesse Norman: The numbers of pedestrians killed in road accidents in Great Britain has increased slightly overall since 2010 (from 405 in 2010 to 448 in 2016). However, there has been some fluctuation in the number of pedestrians killed in the intervening years (for example, in 2013 the number killed was lower than in 2010 at 398). Earlier this year, the Department extended the cycle safety review to consider ways to improve pedestrian safety. Officials are currently analysing responses to the call for evidence, seeking views on ways to make walking and cycling safer while supporting the Government’s ambition to increase take up and use. In June the Government announced its intention to deliver a more strategic approach to preventing deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The Department has a two-year action plan to address four priority user groups, including young people and older more vulnerable road users, who are at greater risk of being injured as a pedestrian compared to other age groups. The refreshed statement will be informed by early lessons from the new road collision investigation pilot - a £480,000 partnership between police forces and the RAC Foundation to trial an innovative approach to road collision investigation, carrying out more in-depth, qualitative analysis of the underlying causes of road safety incidents in order to get a better understanding of what is really causing collisions on UK roads.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Public Appointments

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department holds information on the socio-economic background of people appointed to senior positions in his Department in the last five years.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Civil Service is currently looking at the best way to start implementing the measures published earlier in June across Government Departments, to better understand the background of people appointed in senior positions.The Government is committed to social mobility, and we are committed to creating an organisation in which everybody can thrive.

Diplomatic Service: Political Activities

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidance ambassadors receive about engaging in political activities.

Sir Alan Duncan: Ambassadors are bound by the Diplomatic Service Code of Conduct which includes guidance on the professional standards expected of staff, including on political impartiality.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Sir Alan Duncan: We do not hold a central record of all those who hold roles, either paid or unpaid, who are members of the House of Lords.

Antarctic: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made on securing international support for Antarctic marine protection.

Sir Alan Duncan: Ocean protection issues have been a key point of discussion among Ministers at recent G7 and G20 meetings, as the UK continues to be a global leader in marine conservation. Within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the UK is working proactively to establish a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Antarctica. At its next meeting in October, CCAMLR will consider the UK co-sponsored proposals for establishing MPAs in the East Antarctic and Weddell Sea. International consultations on these proposals are underway at official and technical levels.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Mobile Phones

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish a list of the mobile phone applications developed by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of developing of each of those applications.

Sir Alan Duncan: This Department and its agencies have not developed any mobile phone applications in the last three years. The cost to the public purse is therefore nil.

Catalonia: Sovereignty

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the President of the Government of Catalonia.

Sir Alan Duncan: I have had no discussions with Joaquim Torra, the President of the regional Government of Catalonia. The situation in Catalonia is a matter for Spain and the position of the British Government on Catalonia is well known: we want to see the rule of law respected, the Spanish constitution upheld and Spanish unity maintained.​

Russia: Sanctions

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement by the Prime Minister of 5 September 2018, Official Report columns 167-187, Salisbury Update, whether the Government plans to impose further sanctions on those representing Russian Government interests in the UK.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK's Sanctions and Money Laundering Act ​has not yet commenced. The UK currently implements sanctions through the EU and has been at the forefront of EU sanctions on Russia, in response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine, since 2014. We welcome the fact that the EU's comprehensive package to tackle hybrid threats, endorsed at the June European Council, includes the creation of a new Chemical Weapons sanctions regime. We will continue to press for its speedy adoption. We will also push for new EU sanctions regimes against those responsible for cyber-attacks and gross human rights violations; as well as robustly enforcing the existing EU regime against Russia.

Sri Lanka: Missing Persons

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to support investigations into cases of enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: The UK supports the steps Sri Lanka has taken since 2015 under UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, which it co-sponsored. The establishment of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), and the passage of domestic legislation to implement Sri Lanka's commitments under the International Convention on Enforced Disappearances in March are welcome. The discovery of a mass grave in Mannar over the summer underscores the importance of this work. But more needs to be done. I hope that an Office for Reparations can be established soon to complement the OMP's work, together with other necessary transitional justice mechanisms.I have repeatedly raised the need for more progress with the Government of Sri Lanka, most recently with Foreign Minister Marapana in April. I will take this up again when I visit Sri Lanka later this year. Our High Commission in Colombo also remain actively engaged. The UK has committed £7.9 million, 2016-19, to support Sri Lanka's reform agenda. This includes projects which advance reconciliation and the rule of law, and funding to Sri Lanka's Peacebuilding Priority Plan, which includes UN technical and other support to establishing the OMP.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Brexit

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the 2018-19 Main Estimates, published in April 2018, how much funding his Department has allocated to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

Sir Alan Duncan: The FCO has been allocated £29.6m by HM Treasury for essential EU Exit work in FY 18/19. In total, HMT has allocated over £1.5bn of additional funding to Government Departments for EU Exit work in FY 18/19. A full breakdown of this can be found in the Chief Secretary's Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540. Allocated funds will be taken up by the FCO at Supplementary Estimates 2018-19.

Syria: Chemical Weapons

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government was aware that Barzeh had been found by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to be clear of chemical weapons six months before missile strikes were initiated against that location on 14 April 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan: Laboratory facilities at Barzeh form part of Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC), and were inspected by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in November 2017. The UK assesses that the SSRC, including the Barzeh facility, was a centre for the research and development of Syria's chemical and biological programme. The OPCW has stated that Syria's Declaration of its SSRC under the Chemical Weapons Convention remained incomplete, and continues to report that gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies remain in Syria's account of its declaration under the Convention. The targets of missile strikes on 14 April were selected on the basis of rigorous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to degrade the Syrian regime's chemical weapons capability and deter further chemical weapons use by the regime.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Tax Havens

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the press release, New UK aid package will stop dirty money in its tracks and recover millions of pounds for developing countries, published by the Government on 30 August 2018,  whether the programme will include tackling tax havens.

Penny Mordaunt: Illicit finance, including tax evasion, is a problem shared by all jurisdictions with significant financial services centres. Tackling this problem is a priority for me and for my Department. DFID is working closely with the rest of Her Majesty’s Government to do more to support the efforts of key jurisdictions including offshore financial centres to strengthen their response to illicit finance.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of access to Saada by humanitarian relief organisations after the military operations in that area in August 2018.

Penny Mordaunt: Insecurity, damaged infrastructure and bureaucratic constraints throughout Yemen, including in Sa’ada, continue to threaten the access of humanitarian relief organisations to the 22.2 million Yemenis in need of assistance across the country. As of August 2018, the UN assess Sa’ada district as having high access constraints. We continue to work closely with our UN and NGO delivery partners, in Sa’ada and northern Yemen, who are operating under difficult circumstances to reach the most vulnerable. We also urge all parties to the conflict to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian and commercial access across Yemen, including in Sa’ada, and to do everything possible to protect innocent civilians and demonstrate their commitment to International Humanitarian Law.

Palestinians: Refugees

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the press release, New UK aid package to meet immediate needs of Palestinians through UN Relief and Works Agency, published on 4 September 2018, whether she plans to allocate additional funding for Palestinian refugees as a result of the US administration's decision to cut its funding to the UNRWA.

Penny Mordaunt: The UK has announced £17 million of funding over the past four months, in addition to our original budget of £28.5 million, to protect UNRWA’s vital services. We continue to work with international partners to help unlock further funding for UNRWA and are considering the UK’s plans to help continue meeting the needs of Palestinian refugees across the region.

Global Financing Facility

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to attend the Global Financing Facility in support of Every Woman Every Child Conference in Oslo in November 2018.

Alistair Burt: The Global Financing Facility Replenishment Conference in Oslo in November will be attended by senior DFID representation. We will determine the level of representation in due course.

Global Financing Facility

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will make it its policy to continue their contribution to the Global Financing Facility for Every Woman and Child (GFF) at the GFF replenishment conference in November.

Alistair Burt: At last year’s Family Planning Summit in London, we announced £30m over 3 years to enable the Global Financing Facility (GFF) to pilot innovative financing mechanisms. This funding is still ongoing to 2020 and will increase domestic and private sector resources for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Decisions about potential future support will be taken in due course.

Developing Countries: Tuberculosis

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department is allocating to the global effort to tackle tuberculosis in the current Parliament.

Alistair Burt: DFID supports tuberculosis (TB) control through bilateral and multilateral channels. The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the principal mechanism the UK uses to finance our contribution to combat TB. We have pledged up to £1.2 billion for 2017-2019 to the Global Fund. Our purely bilateral spending on TB control for 2016, which we publish by calendar year, was £2.6m. Data beyond 2016 has not yet been published. These figures do not capture all our spending on TB control, which benefits from our sizeable investment in global health research, cross health sector global and country programmes and our large investment in many health UN agencies.

Department for International Development: Mobile Phones

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish a list of the mobile phone applications developed by her Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of developing of each of those applications.

Harriett Baldwin: The Department for International Development has not developed any mobile phone applications in the last three years. There has therefore been no cost to the public purse.

Global Financing Facility

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department plans to provide for the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Every Woman Every Child initiative at the GFF replenishment conference in Autumn 2018.

Penny Mordaunt: At last year’s Family Planning Summit in London, we announced £30m over 3 years to enable the Global Financing Facility (GFF) to pilot innovative financing mechanisms. This funding is still ongoing to 2020 and will increase domestic and private sector resources for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Decisions about potential future support will be taken in due course.

Food Aid

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she plans to launch the UK-aid food trade and resilience programme.

Penny Mordaunt: The new UK aid-supported Africa Food Trade and Resilience Programme, which will make it easier for commercial companies to buy from smallholder farmers and help to boost the income of 1.8 million farming families in Africa, is expected to start by early 2019.

Food Aid

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who will provide expertise and advice to commercial companies under the UK-Aid food trade and resilience programme.

Penny Mordaunt: Technical advice to commercial companies will be provided by IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, a Dutch and Nairobi-based non-profit public private partnership, both directly and through specialised local companies.

Food Aid

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) multinational and (b) sub-Saharan African companies her Department plans to allocate funding from the Food Trade and Resilience Programme.

Penny Mordaunt: As the Africa Food Trade and Resilience Programme is still in design phase, it is not possible to say yet which companies will receive support. Companies will be selected following detailed market analysis and based on: their impact on local food security; number of women and men farmers in their supply chain; commitment to sustainable, inclusive and gender-sensitive business models; and willingness to contribute their own funds to programme activities.

Africa: Overseas Investment

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the press release, UK launches ambition to generate billions more investment in Africa to trigger transformational growth, published on 28 August 2018, what estimate she has made of the financial benefit to UK business from those partnerships.

Penny Mordaunt: The Prime Minister announced a range of measures to substantially boost investment into businesses and infrastructure across Africa. The UK will invest up to an additional £4bn in Africa directly, whilst also aiming to mobilise £4bn of private investment into the continent over four years (2018-21). Benefits will materialise over time. UK investment in Africa supports African economies to grow, building greater opportunities for UK businesses to trade and invest with the continent in the longer-term. CDC investments in Africa build markets and demonstrate to other investors the viability of investing in the continent, creating opportunities for UK investors and businesses. Essential infrastructure, such as power and roads, supported by the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) will lay the foundations for new investible opportunities across Africa in places businesses previously would not have been able to operate, potentially creating opportunities for the UK also.

Africa: Overseas Investment

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the press release, UK launches ambition to generate billions more investment in Africa to trigger transformational growth, published on 28 August 2018, which (a) businesses, and (b) sectors in the UK will benefit from the projects.

Penny Mordaunt: The Prime Minister announced a range of measures to substantially boost investment into businesses and infrastructure across Africa. CDC, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, will aim to invest up to £3.5bn in African businesses over four years (2018-21), and the UK will invest a further £300m into the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) to build essential infrastructure across Africa, laying the foundations for new trading and business opportunities. Through these and other initiatives, the UK will aim to mobilise a further £4bn of private investment into Africa over the next four years (2018-21).

Ghana: Overseas Investment

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the press release, UK Minister for Africa visits Ghana to show support for Ghana’s vision to move beyond aid, published on 28 August 2018,  which UK companies will be involved in the Jobs and Economic Transformation Programme.

Penny Mordaunt: Deploying the UK’s world-class development assistance to help African countries to drive private sector growth and job creation is at the centre of the UK’s new partnership with Africa. The Prime Minister made this clear in her recent visit to the continent. In Ghana, the UK’s new Jobs and Economic Transformation programme is expected to help the Ghanaian government to generate over £50 million in private investment and create 15,000 jobs. This is vital if Ghana is to achieve its ambition of moving “beyond aid”.

Developing Countries: Brexit

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2018 to Question 169666 on Developing Countries: Brexit, how her Department plans to work with the EU on development co-operation in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Harriett Baldwin: We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal, and we remain confident that we will agree a mutually advantageous deal with the EU. We do not want or expect a no deal scenario; however, it is the duty of a responsible Government to continue to prepare for a range of potential outcomes, including the unlikely event of no deal. Should this unlikely outcome materialise, the nature of our future cooperation will necessarily be much more limited. The UK would still be able to meet its development objectives without channelling development funding through the EU. The UK and EU will remain global leaders in development in either scenario. We will continue to work towards shared commitments to eradicate extreme poverty and to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mozambique: Loans

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on their investigation into the undisclosed loans by two London-based banks to three state owned enterprises in Mozambique.

Penny Mordaunt: The British High Commission in Maputo has worked with Mozambican authorities to reach out to UK authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), in order to clarify issues related to the three previously undisclosed loans that were divulged in 2013 and 2016. DFID has followed these conversations, and supported the work of FCO colleagues. The FCA, however, does not comment on live investigations, even to other UK government officials.

Department for Education

Schools: Equipment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the findings of the National Education Union and Child Poverty Action Group, Child poverty and education: A survey of the experiences of NEU members, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of school staff who are personally purchasing equipment for students.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 10 September 2018



School staff should not have to purchase equipment for their students. Core funding for schools and high needs is at its highest ever level, having risen from almost £41 billion in the period 2017 to 2018 to £42.4 billion this year. It will rise further to £43.5 billion in the period 2019 to 2020.Since 2010, there are 637,000 fewer children living in workless households. 75% of children from workless families moved out of poverty when their parents entered into full-time work.Supported by the National Living Wage, the lowest paid have seen their wages grow by almost 7% above inflation between April 2015 and April 2017. This year, the government raised the Income Tax personal allowance to £11,850.Under the Labour government, in the period 2009 to 2010, someone working full-time on the minimum wage earned over £10,500 and had to pay £820 to the government in income tax. Under the Conservative government, in the period 2018 to 2019, they earn over £14,200 and would only pay £490.

Teachers: Pay

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2018 to Question 168037 on Teachers: Pay, which specific forecasts have been scrutinised to allow the Department to centrally meet the cost Teachers’ Pay Grant; what those forecasts and assumptions originally were; and how those forecasts and assumptions have changed.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 11 September 2018



The Teachers’ Pay Grant uses funding which has been released from the core schools budget, specifically the Schools Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the Pupil Premium. The amount originally set aside for these budgets in July 2017 was based on the projected number of pupils in schools and the projected number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium, in 2018/19 and 2019/20. These numbers are lower than forecast, and updated projections for 2019/20 suggest slower than previously expected pupil number growth. Using the funding this difference creates, the Department is providing schools with £187 million in 2018-19 and £321 million in 2019-20, to help them implement the announced pay award.

Religion: Education

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that all state-funded schools are meeting their statutory obligation to teach religious education as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.

Nick Gibb: Good quality religious education can develop children’s knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain and other countries, and foster understanding among different faiths and cultures. That is why religious education remains compulsory for all state funded schools, including academies and free schools, at all key stages. The Department does not routinely monitor schools to ensure that they meet their statutory duties, but when made aware that schools are not fulfilling their legal duties, it will investigate. All schools are expected to publish their curriculum by subject for each academic year on their websites. Guidance on this makes specific reference to religious education.

Religion: Teachers

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the quality of initial and continuing teacher training in religious education for primary school teachers.

Nick Gibb: It is for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers to determine the content and structure of courses, but they must be designed so that trainees can demonstrate that they meet all Teachers' Standards to an appropriate level. To be awarded Qualified Teacher Status trainees must “have a secure knowledge of the relevant subject(s) and curriculum areas” and “demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum areas.” This includes Religious Education for primary school teachers.Ofsted inspects ITT programmes for compliance against the ITT Criteria, and for the quality of ITT teaching and trainee outcomes. At the end of June 2017 99% of all ITT partnerships inspected by Ofsted were judged either good or outstanding. In the 2017 Newly Qualified Teacher Survey, more than 80% of newly-qualified teachers surveyed rated the overall quality of their training as 7-10 out of 10, with 32% rating it as 9-10 out of 10. The full ITT Criteria can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-criteria.Once qualified, decisions relating to teachers’ professional development rest with schools, head teachers, and teachers themselves, as they are in the best position to judge their own requirements.The Government has a number of initiatives to ensure that all teachers have access to high-quality professional development.

Bright Tribe Multi-academy Trust

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when (a) he and (b) officials in his Department were made aware of the financial concerns relating to Bright Tribe academy trust; and what steps his Department has taken to address those concerns.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have a robust intervention strategy, built on a clear framework and communicated and regulated through trusts’ funding agreements and the Academies Financial Handbook. The former Secretary of State (Nicky Morgan), my right hon. Friend for Loughborough, was initially made aware of the financial concerns relating to Bright Tribe Trust in July 2015. The ESFA has worked closely with Bright Tribe Trust since 2015. An initial Financial Management and Governance Review was completed in November 2015, with follow up visits in September 2016 and August 2017. In June 2018, we made a further visit to Bright Tribe Trust in relation to the outstanding capital issues at The Whitehaven Academy. The ESFA reviews all allegations received about Bright Tribe Trust and individual schools within the trust. Following most recent allegations, a warning letter was issued by the EFSA on 7 August 2018.

Students: Mental Health Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of University students who have accessed mental health services through (a) their university and (b) the NHS in each of the last seven years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Higher education providers (HEPs) are not required to submit information on students accessing their mental health services. Students have no obligation to disclose to their institution or any other party if they access NHS mental health services.Research conducted last year by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) states:81% of HEPs report an increase in overall demand for student support services, while 41% of HEPs report an increase of over 25%.94% of HEPs report an increase in demand for counselling services, while 61% of HEPs report an increase of over 25%.The IPPR research is available at: https://www.ippr.org/publications/not-by-degrees.The University Mental Health Charter, announced in June, is backed by the government and led by the sector, and will drive up standards in promoting student and staff mental health and wellbeing.

Care Leavers

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the guidance, Staying put: arrangements for care leavers aged 18 years and above, published on 22 May 2013, what progress the Government has made on implementing the staying put policy.

Nadhim Zahawi: Staying Put has helped thousands of care leavers to continue to benefit from a stable and secure family setting and to prepare for independence at a more gradual pace rather than facing a ‘cliff-edge’ at the age of 18. The policy has been welcomed by care leavers and the sector.The latest data for the year ending March 2017 shows that 51% of those ceasing to be looked after in a foster placement on their 18th birthday remained with their former foster carer. In addition, 25% of 19 and 20 year olds were still living with their former foster carers.

Care Leavers

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress the Government has made on its staying close scheme for children leaving residential care; and how many such children have been involved in that scheme.

Nadhim Zahawi: We are providing around £6 million in the period 2018 to 2019 and in the period 2019 to 2020 for a national pilot of Staying Close in eight sites.These pilots provide an enhanced support offer for those leaving residential care. The support offer includes an accommodation offer close to their former children’s home alongside practical and emotional support from a member of staff from their former children's home whom they know and trust.Reports from the pilots show that 120 care leavers participated in the Staying Close pilots from January 2018 to July 2018.A full evaluation will be available when the pilots end in March 2020.

Pupils: Sanitary Protection

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of school days missed by girls due to being unable to afford sanitary products.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Schools: Gedling

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school places were available in Gedling in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department collects information from each local authority on the number of schools and the number of places in those schools through the annual school capacity survey (SCAP). The Department does not collect school capacity information at parliamentary constituency level. Data relating to the position in the 2017/2018 academic year is currently being collected and quality assured. As of 1 May 2017, in the Nottinghamshire county council area, the total number of unfilled primary places was 5,223 and the total number of unfilled secondary places was 10,836. The total number of primary school places available in Nottinghamshire was 69,297 and the total number of secondary places available was 57,080. The capacity data are published on an annual basis, giving equivalent local authority and regional totals, through the SCAP tables. Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-capacity-academic-year-2016-to-2017. Funding is provided for every place local authorites inform us they need to create. Nottinghamshire received £66.2 million to provide new school places from 2011-2018, and has been allocated a further £19.8 million from 2018-2021.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Hunting

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been (a) charged and (b) prosecuted for fox hunting on National Trust land in each of the last five years.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been (a) charged and (b) prosecuted for fox hunting in each of the last five years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, Lucy Frazer MP, on 13 June 2018 to Question 150579 to the hon. Member for Preston, Sir Mark Hendrick MP.

Sewage: Waste Disposal

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Environment Agency is taking to reduce the number of incidents of outflow from sewage overflows in England and Wales.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra and the Environment Agency have worked with water companies through the 21st Century Drainage Programme to develop a process to identify storm overflows that spill frequently. It is also agreed that investigations will be conducted to assess the cause, the environmental impact and whether it is cost beneficial to reduce the spill frequency. If it is cost beneficial then a spill reduction scheme will be promoted, which will be reviewed annually. Through the planning for the next round of water company investment in the period 2020-2025, over 700 storm overflows have been identified for investigation and some of these will result in identified requirements for spill reduction. From investigations carried out to date, more than 40 storm overflows have already been identified as requiring spill reduction, and improvements will be secured through the investment programme. In addition, storm overflows are monitored for how often and for how long they operate. By 2020 some 11,500 out of 15,000 storm overflows in England will have that monitoring to help inform further assessment and improvement work.

Sewage: Rivers

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of sewage and waste water entering rivers and streams from misconnected water and sewage pipes.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Water companies, the Environment Agency and local authorities are working to address misconnections and raise awareness with householders, the building trade and other professionals. This is being targeted by the ConnectRight campaign and the trade accreditation scheme, WaterSafe. This work is being coordinated by the National Misconnections Strategy Group, which in addition to the organisations named above includes Defra and the Consumer Council for Water. The group has also developed good practice for the industry, as well as looking at measures to limit misconnections being made in the first place. Further work to limit and reduce misconnections is also being planned as part of the planning for the next water company investment round in the period 2020-2025 to maintain a resilient wastewater and drainage system.

Foxes: Urban Areas

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on the elimination of foxes from urban areas.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Advice on the management of foxes is available on GOV.UK and from Natural England.   https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foxes-moles-and-mink-how-to-protect-your-property-from-damage   There is no statutory duty on local authorities, or anyone else, to control foxes in their areas. The Government’s policy is that landowners and individuals are free to manage wildlife within the law; this includes local authorities. The decision on whether or not to control foxes lies with the owner or occupier of the property where the problem occurs.

Forestry Commission: Parking Offences

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many parking penalty charge notices were issued under the Forestry Commission Byelaws 1982 in 2017.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many parking penalty charge notices were issued under the Forestry Commission Byelaws 1982 for (a) non-payment and (b) insufficient payment in 2017.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Forestry Commission’s records show that in calendar year 2017 there were 861 penalty charge notices issued.   728 penalty charge notices were issued for non-payment, and 102 were issued where payment had expired before the vehicle left the carpark.

Water Supply

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures is he taking to reduce the amount of water leakage by water companies; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Total leakage has fallen by a third since 1994, following investment by water companies. However, there is still more to do.   The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out the Government’s ambitions for reducing demand on water resources. This includes support for Ofwat’s target for water companies to reduce leakage by 15% by 2025.   The Secretary of State recently called in water company Chief Executives who did not meet their leakage targets this year to explain this failure and what actions they were taking to improve their performance - particularly in light of this summer’s dry weather.   In their draft business plans, water companies have proposed an average reduction of 16% by 2025. It is now for Ofwat to scrutinise these plans.

Housing: Flood Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,  how many and what proportion of houses in flood-affected post codes after storm Desmond have had flood protection measures installed; and what flood protection measures have been installed in each house that was affected.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: As a result of Storm Desmond and Eva, 17,628 properties were eligible to receive the flood resilience grant in the local authority areas impacted by the storms. 66% (11,756) of those eligible for the grant in the impacted local authority areas submitted applications and 95% (11,193) were approved. The information about the postcodes of properties that received the grants and the types of measures installed is held by the local authorities who implemented the scheme. The range of flood resilience measures installed in each property will depend on the choices made by the householder, the type of flood risk, and the construction of the property.

Floods: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of businesses that have been flooded by rising water levels on Lake Windermere in each of the last ten years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Since the late 1990s the Windermere Lake area has been subject to flooding on several occasions, notably in 1999, 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2015. The Environment Agency (EA) estimates that approximately 94 businesses flooded in 2015 as a result of rising water levels on Lake Windermere.   The EA does not have records of numbers of businesses flooded prior to 2015. The Windermere Lake peak level record was set in 2009. The impact of the 2009 event will therefore have encompassed a greater number of flooded businesses relative to any other year.

Fly-tipping and Litter: Fines

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to impose fines for littering and flytipping.

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the maximum fine for littering.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government published the Litter Strategy for England in 2017, setting out our approach of applying best practice in education, enforcement and ‘binfrastructure’ in order to deliver a substantial reduction in litter and littering within a generation.   The Litter Strategy sets out a number of proposals to improve enforcement against littering, including commitments to “support councils in using new powers to issue fixed penalties for small‑scale fly‑tipping offences”, and “deliver guidance to promote proportionate and responsible enforcement”. Alongside the Strategy, we also consulted on proposals to increase the fixed penalty for littering, and to give councils improved powers to take enforcement action against littering from vehicles.   Through the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group we have published guidance which sets out clearly the powers available to local authorities when tackling fly-tipping. It is the responsibility of local authorities to use the full range of enforcement powers available to them to tackle fly-tipping. The list of powers is online here: http://www.tacklingflytipping.com/Documents/NFTPG-CaseStudies/Fly-tipping-responsibilities-Guide-for-local-authorities-and-land-manage....pdf   With effect from April 2018, we have increased the maximum fixed penalty for littering from £80 to £150, and given councils in England new powers to tackle littering from vehicles. We have no plans to make further changes to the level of fixed penalties at this stage. It is for councils now to use these powers and some are already taking advantage of them.   We have also recently consulted on improved guidance on the proportionate use of these enforcement powers, which we propose to incorporate into the statutory Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. That consultation closed on 8 June and responses are currently being considered. We expect to publish the revised guidance later this year.

Tree Planting: Cumbria

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of the 11 million trees his Department plans to be planted this Parliament will be planted in the first pilot forestry investment zone in Cumbria.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Forestry investment zones are being developed to drive our long term woodland expansion aspirations. No estimate has been made of the contribution of individual forestry investment zones to the 11 million tree commitment.

Tree Planting

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Forestry Commission England has plans to report on progress on achieving the Government’s objective of planting 180,000 hectares of new woodland in England by the end of 2042 in its Annual Corporate Plan.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Statistics on all known new planting of woodland and on the area of woodland in England are already published annually by the Forestry Commission in Forestry Statistics, available on the Forest Research website.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the 2018-19 Main Estimates, published in April 2018, how much funding his Department has allocated to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

George Eustice: HM Treasury has already allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to departments and the devolved administrations for preparations for leaving the EU so far. This includes the £1.5 billion of additional funding HM Treasury announced at Autumn Budget 2017 for 2018/19. A full breakdown of how this was allocated to departments can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on 13 March (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/). This money will be paid out in Supplementary Estimates 18/19 later this financial year.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Business

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has conducted an impact assessment of the potential effects on businesses in (a) the North East and (b) the UK of leaving the EU VAT area.

Mr Robin Walker: We are committed to getting the best possible deal for the United Kingdom - a deal that works for all parts of the UK, including the North East. We continue to engage with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy, and all regions and nations of the UK, in order to inform our negotiations.The Government’s recent White Paper on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union proposes the application of common cross-border process and procedures on VAT and excise, along with administrative cooperation and information exchange. The UK will not be a part of the EU single VAT area, but these common processes would facilitate payments and underpin risk-based enforcement, keeping tax and duty processes as close as possible to what they are currently.The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis helps define our future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks. Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would reveal our negotiating position and so the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Economic Analysis

Sir Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will list all the external analysis that has been commissioned by his Department since its inception; and what amount of money was spent on each such piece.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis helps define our future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks. Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would reveal our negotiating position and so the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on analytical work that is being carried out.Costs spent on analysis directly commissioned externally by the Department for Exiting the European Union are recorded and published under the category of consultancy spending in our Annual Report and Accounts. The Department’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2017-18 can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/727528/CCS207_CCS0618826768-1_DExEU_ARA_1718_PDF_Final_TEXT_v2__1_.pdf

Department for Exiting the European Union: Staff

Sir Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will list (a) all the economic qualifications held by staff in his Department's Planning and Analysis Directorate and (b) what level those qualifications are.

Mr Robin Walker: The information you have requested is not held centrally therefore we are not in a position to provide this for particular groups of staff.The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 650 staff. The Department continues to recruit the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector, in a range of professions, including the Government Economics Service (GES). The Department also coordinates the work of specialist economists from across the whole of Government on exit related policy. This ensures that it draws together the expertise and specific relevant knowledge required to deliver the Department’s objectives to secure the best possible deal on the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, and build a deep and comprehensive future partnership between the UK and the EU.

Broadcasting

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2018 to Question 165184 on Brexit, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the Government's policies on the future relationship between the UK and the EU on (a) jobs in and (b) value of the broadcasting sector in the UK.

Mr Robin Walker: The UK is seeking the best possible arrangements for the broadcasting sector. We are focussing on ensuring the ability to trade as freely as possible with the EU and supporting the continued growth of the UK and European broadcasting industry. In addition, due to the UK's ongoing participation in the Council of Europe's Convention on Transfrontier Television (CTT), which will not be affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, works originating in the UK will continue to be classed as European Works, which is extremely important to industry.The Government is undertaking a wide range of continuing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis will help define our future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would reveal our negotiating position and so the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work.The Government has confirmed that when we bring forward the vote on the final deal, we will ensure that Parliament is presented with the appropriate analysis to make an informed decision.

Food

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to ensure that the food requirements of each of the four nations of the UK are taken into account when negotiating agreements relating to the food sector for when the UK leaves the EU.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.The UK Government has established a Ministerial Forum on EU Negotiations to discuss a range of issues, including on food policy, in relation to negotiations on the UK's future relationship with the EU and provide the devolved administrations with an increased opportunity to contribute to the development of the UK's negotiating position in greater breadth and depth.

Food

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to ensure that negotiations with the EU on the UK leaving the EU take into account the specific food needs of the constituent parts of the UK.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.The UK Government has established a Ministerial Forum on EU Negotiations to discuss a range of issues, including on food policy, in relation to negotiations on the UK's Future Relationship with the EU and provide the Devolved Administrations with an increased opportunity to contribute to the development of the UK's negotiating position in greater breadth and depth.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the total cost to the public purse for his Department’s work preparing for the UK to leave the EU has been since 23 June 2016.

Chris Heaton-Harris: HM Treasury has allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to Departments and the Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This breaks down as:£412m of additional funding over the spending review period for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Department for International Trade and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office at Autumn Statement 2016.£286m of additional funding for 17/18 (a full breakdown of which can be found in Supplementary Estimates 17/18: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/679738/PU2137_Supplementary_estimates_web.pdf ).Over £1.5bn of additional funding for 18/19. A full breakdown of which can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March ( https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/ ).

Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of leaving the EU in accordance with (a) the proposals set out in the Government’s White Paper and (b) a no-deal scenario.

Chris Heaton-Harris: In the Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor set aside £1.5 billion of additional funding for EU Exit preparations in 2019/20. Departments will be invited to bid for 2019/20 EU Exit preparation funding later in the year. Details of timings and process will be announced in due course.The expenditure of the Department for Exiting the European Union is published in our annual accounts. We continue to review our resource requirements to ensure that we deliver our aims and objectives within the delegated budget approved by Parliament.

UK Relations with EU

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraph 66 of chapter 2 on page 64 of the paper, The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, whether the arrangements with the EU for future development policy cooperation will come into effect during the implementation period.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The UK welcomes the provision in the Withdrawal Agreement that allows for the future relationship on foreign and defence policy to become effective during the Implementation Period.In future, our cooperation with the EU on development will be linked to the external financing instruments established in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, after the Implementation Period has ended. This will determine how the EU will finance international development after 2020.The UK remains open to pooling resources with the EU and drawing on our collective expertise to maximise the combined development impact in areas of our mutual interest. This is why we have proposed, in the recent White Paper, a Cooperative Accord on development assistance and international action. Precisely how this relationship will work remains subject to negotiation.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Temporary Employment

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff in his Department are classed as contingent labour.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department for Exiting the European Union currently has 13 staff it classifies as contingent labour.

Travel

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on travel requirements for EU and UK holiday-makers after the UK has left the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The Secretary of State meets regularly with Michel Barnier to discuss the issues related to our exit.We are discussing all of the issues set out in the White Paper with the EU and have said that we want to enable UK and EU tourists to continue to travel visa-free in the future, maintaining the close links between our people.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department for Exiting the European Union can confirm that 1 member of the House of Lords has a paid role in the Department. Lord Callanan was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union on 27 October 2017.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will hold discussions with car manufacturers in the West Midlands on frictionless car manufacturing supply chains.

Suella Braverman: Ministers in my Department and across Government continue to engage with companies from all sectors and across the country - including with the car manufacturing sector - to hear their priorities and issues as we leave the European Union. In July we hosted a business engagement event at Chevening House. Representatives from the automotive manufacturing sector with a presence in the West Midlands, including Jaguar Land Rover and BMW UK, were among the attendees at this event.

Companies: Disclosure of Information

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many non-disclosure agreements the Government has signed with companies in relations to contingency plan for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We continue to engage with a wide range of businesses to understand their priorities and issues as we leave the European Union, both to inform our negotiating position, and our preparations in the unlikely event of there being no deal.The Government has non-disclosure agreements with some private sector organisations. Confidentiality requirements are a common component of contractual obligations and are used by the Department to protect commercial considerations as well as negotiation sensitivities.

UK Relations With EU

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to Answer of 6 September to Question 169670 on UK Relations with EU, whether his Department is seeking to develop a new development partnership with the EU.

Suella Braverman: The Government’s position, as set out most recently in the 12 July White Paper, is that a future UK-EU relationship on development would be in our mutual interest. As part of this relationship we have proposed a cooperative accord on development assistance and international action.We have identified some specific thematic areas where there is a strong case for such a UK-EU strategic partnership, such as humanitarian aid, migration and peace and security. However, other thematic and geographic areas could also be considered, as new challenges emerge, where a UK-EU partnership may be the best approach.Any UK participation would require appropriate influence and oversight over UK funds, at the strategic and programme level, as well as eligibility for UK entities to deliver EU programmes and apply for funding on an open and fair basis.

Brexit

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has sought legal advice on (a) holding a second referendum on EU membership and (b) reversing Article 50.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government are maintaining the general practice of successive Governments not to comment on legal advice that may or may not have been sought or received.As a matter of firm policy we will not revoke Article 50 or hold a second referendum. A clear majority of the electorate voted to leave the EU and we must respect both the will of the British people, and the democratic process which delivered this result.The British people gave a clear instruction to leave, and we are delivering on that instruction.

Attorney General

Convictions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking with regional police forces to help secure convictions.

Robert Buckland: In England and Wales the CPS decides which cases should be prosecuted, and then prepares and presents them at court. Decisions are made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors which requires both an evidential and public interest test to be met before a prosecution can proceed.The CPS will advise the police and other investigators about possible lines of inquiry and evidential requirements, and assist with pre-charge procedures. The CPS and police hold joint Prosecution Team Performance Meetings where performance, including conviction rates, are discussed and monitored. Local plans are put in place, where appropriate, to improve the outcomes of cases that are charged and prosecuted.In large-scale investigations, the prosecutor may be asked to advise on the overall investigation strategy, to assist the police and other investigators to enable them to complete the investigation within a reasonable period of time and to build the most effective prosecution case. However, prosecutors cannot direct the police or other investigators.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Brexit

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many times his expert panel on EU exit has met since January 2018.

Alun Cairns: Discussions with my Expert Panel form part of my engagement with stakeholders in Wales on EU Exit. The Panel has met four times in 2018 and a further meeting will take place next week.

Ministry of Justice

Civil Proceedings: Low Incomes

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps is he taking to improve access to the civil courts for people with limited financial means.

Lucy Frazer: The Government has a responsibility to ensure access to justice. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously. Our fee remission scheme, Help with Fees, is a crucial element of our fees strategy. We are considering whether the scheme needs to be adapted following the Unison judgment. We are exploring how to ensure access to justice whilst protecting the Department’s finances. To that end, we are conducting a review of how we charge fees in light of Unison and will publish further details on our proposed approach in due course. We are also currently conducting a review of the current legal aid scheme set out under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). This review is due to be published by the end of the year.

Prison Sentences

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) six month and (b) 12 month prison sentences on reducing reoffending.

Rory Stewart: There is persuasive evidence that short custodial sentences are less effective, in terms of rehabilitation than community sentences, which in certain circumstances, are more effective in reducing reoffending, and therefore keeping the public safe. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015 found that over a 1-year follow up period, a higher proportion of people re-offended having been sentenced to custody of under 12 months without supervision on release than other similar people given community orders (around 3 percentage points). We will therefore be looking at what more we can do to emphasise that short custodial sentences should be viewed as a last resort. We also want to ensure that the public and judiciary have confidence in non-custodial sentences, such as effective community orders, which directly tackle the causes of reoffending, addressing offenders’ needs such as mental health and alcohol or drug abuse.

Prison Sentences

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the reoffending rate for people receiving a prison sentence of less than 12 months in the latest period for which figures are available.

Rory Stewart: This information is published as part of the Proven Reoffending Statistics and can be found on gov.uk. The latest publication can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/728733/proven-reoffending-jul16-sep16-3-monthly.ods

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he has plans to remove the same roof rule from the criminal injuries compensations scheme.

Edward Argar: We are determined to make sure every victim gets the compensation to which they are entitled.The Justice Secretary announced, in the cross-government victims strategy published yesterday [on 10 September], a full review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to ensure it reflects the changing nature of crime and can better support victims. The review will consider how the Scheme might better serve victims - especially victims of child sexual abuse – and take account of the interim findings and recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA.)We also committed within the victims strategy to remove the pre-1979 ‘same roof rule’.

Prisons: Health Professions

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average time taken for security clearance for healthcare professionals applying for roles in prison.

Rory Stewart: I refer the member to PQs 168027 and 168033, both answered on 10 September 2018.

Prisons

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria his Department used when selecting the establishments for inclusion in the 10 Prisons Project; and if he will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: The prisons selected are typical of Category B (Local)+ Category C prisons found in any regional Prison Group, or cluster, across England and Wales. They are a mix of high performing and significantly more challenged establishments such as Nottingham and Wormwood scrubs, and have the capacity to be part of the Project without detriment to their daily operations. They also all have specific challenges to overcome, including drugs-related ones, which enables them to be used as a template for the wider estate.

Ministry of Justice: Brexit

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the 2018-19 Main Estimates, published in April 2018, how much funding his Department has allocated to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

Lucy Frazer: HM Treasury has already allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to departments and the devolved administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This includes the £1.5 billion of additional funding HM Treasury announced at Autumn Budget 2017 for 2018/19. A full breakdown of how this was allocated to departments can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/). This money will be paid out in Supplementary Estimates 18/19 later this financial year.

Protection of Badgers Act 1992

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 16 April 2018 to Question 134447 and the Court Outcomes by Police Force Area data tool published on 17 May 2018, how many people were (a) proceeded against and (b) convicted of an offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 specifically in each police force area in 2017.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 16 April 2018 to Question 134448 and the Court Outcomes by Police Force Area data tool published on 17 May 2018, how many people were (a) proceeded against and (b) convicted of an offence under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 specifically in each police force area in 2017.

Lucy Frazer: The number of people prosecuted and convicted for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and offences under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 for each police authority area in 2017 can be found in the tables.



Table fpr PQ 172463-64
(Excel SpreadSheet, 10.93 KB)

Knives: Children

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions for selling a bladed article to a person under 18 years of age there have been in each of the last five years.

Lucy Frazer: The number of defendants prosecuted for selling a bladed article to a person under 18 years of age in the last five years can be found in the Criminal Justice Statistics Outcomes by Offence tool in the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/707811/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2017.xlsx Select offence: ‘195 Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.141A(1) - Selling a blade to a person aged under 18’ Figures for 2018 are planned for publication in May 2019.

Debt Collection: Regulation

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has plans to introduce independent regulation for the bailiff industry in order to prevent the use of aggressive and intimidating behaviour.

Lucy Frazer: The Government intends to launch a call for evidence in the Autumn, to evaluate the enforcement agent reforms introduced by the Tribunals, Court and Enforcement Act 2007. Evidence received from the call for evidence will be used to inform our assessment of the current regulation of the industry, and options for further reform.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time is for a social security tribunal hearing in each of the last five years for people living in the Easington constituency.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisons: Security

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many trained search teams are available to HM Prison Service.

Rory Stewart: The Prison Service has ten Dedicated Search Teams (DST) consisting of ten Prison Officer operatives managed by Custodial Manager. They are specially trained to complete all types of enhanced searching activity. They are also part of our wider efforts to further boost prison security, alongside the rolling out of body scanners, sniffer dogs and phone-blocking technology. These teams are geographically dispersed and can respond to requests from establishments throughout the prison estate.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the underlying causes of violence within HM Prisons Service; and if he will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has recently published a summary of the evidence base from a number of countries on prison violence. This examines evidence of which prisoners are most likely to commit violence, when and where incidents are likely to occur, and what the strongest drivers of prison violence are. The study concluded that in addition to imported characteristics specific to individual prisoners, lower rates of assault are associated with legitimate and consistent regimes, better physical conditions, together with greater availability of meaningful activity within the prison. The study is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-prison-violence-a-rapid-evidence-assessment Our assessment of the increase in violence in prisons in England and Wales in recent years is that key drivers in our own system include poor staff-prisoner relationships in some prisons, lack of purposeful activity, and changes in the nature of the illicit economy in prisons (for example the significant increase in the use of psychoactive substances). We are taking significant steps to address these drivers. Across the prison estate, we are improving staff-prisoner relationships and regimes through recruiting an extra 3,500 staff and using these extra numbers to move to a new key worker model. This model will enable prison officers to mentor, challenge and support a small caseload of prisoners. The increased staffing levels will also support prisons to run full and consistent regimes. We are working to restrict supply of drugs, reduce demand and build recovery through a Drugs Taskforce working with law enforcement and health partners across government. The Taskforce is developing a national Drug Strategy, underpinned by advice and guidance that will support the whole of the estate. In addition to these estate-wide measures, we are investing £10 million in 10 prisons to trial new approaches to improve standards and security, to serve as a model of excellence for the rest of the estate to follow. Under the programme, governors at each prison will be provided with new scanners capable of detecting packages inside bodies, and sniffer dogs trained to detect new psychoactive substances. Further investment will go into repairing basic infrastructure such as broken windows. Management will train and support staff to set the highest expectations for prisoners and challenge disruptive and violent behaviour fairly, consistently and firmly to restore order and control.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office EU Unit: Staff

Sir Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the White Paper, The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, published in July 2018, Cm 9593, how many staff members in the Europe Unit worked on that white paper.

Chloe Smith: The White Paper builds on the Prime Minister’s Mansion House speech and followed months of discussions across Whitehall. Preparation for the White Paper was coordinated, and led by the Department for Exiting the European Union. Work to support the White Paper required a cross-government effort and included close collaboration with the Cabinet Office Europe Unit, involving a number of staff at all levels.

Employment: Public Sector

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the change in the number of people working in the public sector has been since 2010.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 69.13 KB)

Electronic Government: Proof of Identity

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment the Government has made of the cost to benefit ratio of the Gov.UK Verify service.

Oliver Dowden: The Cabinet Office has recently conducted an assessment of the costs and benefits of GOV.UK Verify over the period 2016/17 - 2017/18; this assessment has yet to be audited and figures are not yet available. Previously audited figures indicate that GOV.UK Verify has cost £54.4m to develop and hassaved £111.44m.

Construction: Electrical Engineering

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what processes are in place to enable public sector procurement organisations to monitor the competency of electrical workers on Government-funded construction projects.

Oliver Dowden: The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 require the principle contractor to check that anyone they appoint has the skills, knowledge, experience and, where relevant, the organisational capability to carry out their work safely and without risk to health.

Employment: Disability

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister of Cabinet Office, how many disabled people entered the workforce in (a) 2010 and (b) 2018.

Oliver Dowden: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 87.95 KB)

Cabinet Office: Peers

Justin Madders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of the House of Lords hold (a) paid and (b) unpaid roles within (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies.

Oliver Dowden: We do not hold a central record of all those who hold roles in the department, either paid or unpaid, who are members of the House of Lords. The Cabinet Office has responsibility for nine NDPBs covering a range of advisory functions which include, for example, the House of Lords Appointments Commission and the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Membership of the Boards is publically available on Gov.uk. There are currently 10 Peers on the Boards of Cabinet Office NDPBs.

Cabinet Office: Mobile Phones

Justin Madders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of the mobile phone applications developed by his Department and its agencies in the last three years; and what the cost to the public purse was of developing of each of those applications.

Oliver Dowden: The information requested is not held centrally. The Government Digital Service has, however, published guidance on gov.uk advising that developing native or hybrid apps is not usually the best way to deliver public services. https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/technology/working-with-mobile-technology#native-or-hybrid-apps